NIA Steps In: Probe Into Killing of Three Church Leaders in Manipur
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the killing of three church leaders in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, officials in Imphal confirmed on Wednesday.
The victims, members of the Thadou Baptist Association, were ambushed by armed miscreants between Kotzin and Kotlen villages on May 13. The attack also left four others injured. The case was originally registered at the New Keithelmanbi police station on the same day.
Officials stated that the case was re-registered at the NIA's Imphal unit on June 8, following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs three days earlier. According to the NIA's first information report, three members of the Kuki community died on the spot, while four other occupants of the vehicles sustained bullet injuries.
The killings triggered a hostage crisis and a fresh round of ethnic tension between the Kuki and Naga communities. The broader ethnic violence in Manipur began in May 2023 between the Kukis and the non-tribal Meiteis, the dominant community in the Imphal Valley. The conflict later shifted to the hills between the Kukis and Nagas following an incident on February 7.
The ongoing conflicts have claimed more than 270 lives and displaced over 62,000 people. The NIA's involvement marks a significant step in the federal probe into the violence, aiming to bring those responsible to justice.
