Manipur couple arrested over killing of six abducted Naga civilians in Kangpokpi
Synopsis
A couple from Leilon Vaiphei village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district has been arrested by a joint NIA-CRPF-Manipur Police team for the alleged killing of six Naga civilians whose bodies were found in a forest nearly a month after their abduction on 13 May. The arrests come as the Kuki-Zo Council's apology has been rejected by Naga groups as 'insincere', keeping inter-community tensions on edge.
Key Takeaways
Pradip and his wife Ayingbi of Leilon Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi were arrested on 10 July by a joint NIA-CRPF-Manipur Police team.
The couple is accused of involvement in the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians allegedly abducted on 13 May .
The victims' bodies were recovered on 11 June from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district.
The killings triggered protests, counter-economic blockades, and fresh Naga-Kuki-Zo tensions across Manipur.
The Kuki-Zo Council apologised for the killings, but ANSAM and other Naga organisations rejected the apology as 'insincere'.
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh had referred the case to the NIA for a comprehensive investigation.
A joint team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Manipur Police on Friday, 10 July arrested a couple from Kangpokpi district for their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians — one of the most sensitive incidents to emerge from the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur's hill districts. The arrested persons were identified as Pradip and his wife Ayingbi, both residents of Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district.
The Arrest Operation
According to a senior police official, acting on credible intelligence inputs, the joint team launched a well-coordinated pre-dawn operation at Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district to apprehend the accused. Necessary search and seizure procedures were carried out at their residence and surrounding areas, while further legal formalities are underway, the official added.
Background: The Abduction and Killings of May 13
The six Naga civilians were allegedly abducted on 13 May during a wave of violent incidents in Kangpokpi district that also claimed the lives of three church leaders and left four others injured. Their bodies were recovered on 11 June from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village, a predominantly Kuki-Zo tribal settlement under the Saitu-Gamphazol Sub-Division of Kangpokpi district — nearly a month after the abduction. The gruesome killings triggered widespread protests, counter-economic blockades, and renewed tensions between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities across parts of Manipur.
Hostage Crisis and Its Partial Resolution
At least 50 people from the Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage by different armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts in the aftermath of the 13 May violence. Following sustained efforts by authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations, around 30 individuals from both communities were released on 14 and 15 May. The remaining 14 Kuki villagers were released and handed over to police at a station in Senapati district on 10 June by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga People's Organisation (NPO).
Apology, Rejection, and Political Response
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo communities, recently acknowledged the killings and issued an apology, calling for a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into all violence linked to the ethnic unrest. KZC Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, addressing the media at Churachandpur district headquarters alongside three other KZC leaders, admitted that members of the Kuki-Zo community had committed a 'grave mistake' by killing the six Naga civilians, stating the act was carried out 'out of emotion.' However, several Naga organisations, including the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), rejected the apology as 'insincere' and demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had earlier announced that cases relating to the abduction and killing of the six Naga villagers, along with the murder of the three church leaders on 13 May, had been handed over to the NIA for a comprehensive investigation. The latest arrests are expected to mark a significant breakthrough in that probe.
What Comes Next
With the NIA now leading the investigation, the arrests of Pradip and Ayingbi are likely to be followed by further custodial questioning and possible identification of additional accused. The case remains a flashpoint in Manipur's fragile inter-community relations, and the pace and impartiality of the NIA probe will be closely watched by both Naga and Kuki-Zo civil society groups.
Point of View
While operationally significant, should not be mistaken for a resolution of a crisis that implicates far wider networks. The Kuki-Zo Council's public admission that the killings were a 'grave mistake' carried out 'out of emotion' is an extraordinary concession — but Naga civil society's rejection of that apology as 'insincere' signals that the trust deficit between the two communities remains deep. The NIA's involvement raises the investigative bar, but the agency's track record in Manipur's ethnically complex cases will face scrutiny. The real test is whether the probe reaches all those responsible — not just the most proximate accused — and whether it is seen as impartial by both communities. Without that, the arrests risk being perceived as performative closure on an open wound.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in connection with the killing of six Naga civilians in Manipur?
A couple identified as Pradip and his wife Ayingbi , both residents of Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district , were arrested on 10 July by a joint team of the NIA, CRPF, and Manipur Police for their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians.
When and where were the six Naga civilians abducted and killed?
The six Naga civilians were allegedly abducted on 13 May during violent incidents in Kangpokpi district , Manipur. Their bodies were recovered on 11 June from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village , nearly a month after the abduction.
What triggered the broader hostage crisis in Manipur in May?
At least 50 people from Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts following the violence of 13 May , during which three church leaders were also killed and four others injured. Most hostages were subsequently released through mediation by authorities and civil society groups.
Has the Kuki-Zo community apologised for the killings?
Yes. Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet publicly admitted that Kuki-Zo community members committed a 'grave mistake' by killing the six Naga civilians, describing the act as having been carried out 'out of emotion.' However, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and other Naga organisations rejected the apology as 'insincere' and demanded full accountability.
Which agency is investigating the killings and who referred the case?
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh referred the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a comprehensive investigation. The NIA is probing both the abduction and killing of the six Naga civilians and the murder of three church leaders in Kangpokpi on 13 May .
