NIA arrests key suspect in 2023 Manipur SDPO killing by Kuki militants
Synopsis
The NIA has arrested a second key suspect in the October 2023 ambush killing of Manipur SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh — a case now linked to nine arrests including a Myanmar national, pointing to cross-border militant networks at the heart of Manipur's ethnic violence.
Key Takeaways
NIA arrested Otkhothang Baite alias Othang Baite of Moreh, Tengnoupal district on 30 April for alleged conspiracy in the killing of Manipur SDPO.
Moreh SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh was shot during an ambush on 31 October 2023 and later succumbed to his injuries.
A total of nine individuals , including one Myanmar national , have been arrested in the case, according to former CM N.
The NIA took over the case from Moreh police in March 2024 , finding the conspiracy was aimed at spreading terror in Manipur.
In a separate case, the NIA filed charges against three PLA cadres for the 19 September 2025 ambush on an Assam Rifles truck in Bishnupur district that killed two paramilitary personnel .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, 30 April arrested a prime accused in the 2023 killing of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) during an ambush by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur, officials said. The arrest marks a significant development in the NIA's ongoing probe into militant attacks in the violence-hit northeastern state.
Who Was Arrested
The accused, Otkhothang Baite alias Othang Baite, a resident of Moreh in Tengnoupal district, was allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind the attack carried out by members of a suspected Kuki militant group. According to NIA sources, the ambush targeted a district police team at a playground. Earlier this month, the NIA had also arrested another accused, Kamginthang Gangte, in connection with the same case.
The October 2023 Attack
The militants opened fire on 31 October 2023, during the peak of ethnic violence in the state. Moreh SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh sustained a bullet injury to his stomach in the attack and later succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, widespread protests erupted across the valley districts of Manipur after the slain police officer's body was brought to Imphal.
How the Case Reached the NIA
Initially registered by the Moreh police, the case was taken over by the NIA in March 2024. During the course of its investigation, the central agency found that the conspiracy was aimed at spreading terror in Manipur. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had earlier stated that a total of nine individuals, including a Myanmar national, have been arrested in connection with the SDPO's killing. The involvement of a foreign national prompted the NIA's intervention, citing the presence of external elements in the case.
Parallel NIA Action: Assam Rifles Ambush
Separately, the NIA on 18 March filed charges against three cadres of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) terrorist outfit in connection with an ambush on an Assam Rifles truck that resulted in the deaths of two paramilitary personnel. The charge sheet, submitted before the NIA Special Court in Imphal, invokes provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The accused — Thongram Sadananda Singh alias Ngachik alias Purakpa, Khundongbam Oji Meitei alias Keilal, and Irengbam Jugindra Meitei alias Jugin Meitei — are all residents of Manipur previously arrested by law enforcement. The ambush on the 33 Assam Rifles truck occurred on 19 September 2025 at Nambol Sabal Leikai in Bishnupur district.
What Comes Next
The NIA's investigation into the SDPO killing remains ongoing. With multiple arrests now made and a foreign national among those detained, the probe is likely to deepen scrutiny of cross-border militant networks operating in Manipur.
Point of View
A Myanmar national's involvement, and a separate PLA ambush on the Assam Rifles — signals that Manipur's ethnic violence is being treated increasingly as a national security threat with cross-border dimensions, not merely a law-and-order problem. The involvement of a foreign national is particularly significant: it gives the Centre legal and political grounds to frame the conflict as externally aided, which could shape both the investigative trajectory and the political response. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the NIA's parallel charge-sheeting of PLA cadres for the Assam Rifles ambush points to multiple militant ecosystems operating simultaneously in the state — each with distinct ideological and ethnic affiliations. Whether these threads are connected, and whether the NIA's probe will surface those links, remains the critical question.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Otkhothang Baite and why was he arrested?
Otkhothang Baite, also known as Othang Baite, is a resident of Moreh in Tengnoupal district, Manipur, arrested by the NIA on 30 April for his alleged role in the conspiracy behind the October 2023 ambush killing of SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh. He is accused of involvement with a suspected Kuki militant group that carried out the attack.
What happened to Manipur SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh?
SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh was shot in the stomach during a militant ambush on 31 October 2023 at a playground in Moreh, Manipur, and later succumbed to his injuries. His killing triggered widespread protests across valley districts of Manipur.
Why did the NIA take over the Manipur SDPO case?
The NIA took over the case from Moreh police in March 2024 after it found that the conspiracy was aimed at spreading terror in Manipur. The involvement of a Myanmar national among those arrested also prompted central agency intervention, citing the presence of external elements.
Who are the three PLA cadres charged by the NIA in the Assam Rifles ambush?
The three accused are Thongram Sadananda Singh alias Ngachik alias Purakpa, Khundongbam Oji Meitei alias Keilal, and Irengbam Jugindra Meitei alias Jugin Meitei — all Manipur residents previously arrested for the 19 September 2025 ambush on a 33 Assam Rifles truck in Bishnupur district that killed two paramilitary personnel.
How many people have been arrested in the Manipur SDPO killing case so far?
According to former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, a total of nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the SDPO's killing, including one Myanmar national. The NIA's investigation remains ongoing.
