NIA arrests 10 in Manipur ethnic violence after multi-district raids
Synopsis
The NIA, alongside Manipur Police and CRPF, arrested 10 people across seven districts in one of the most sweeping crackdowns since ethnic violence erupted in the state. Alleged offences range from attacks on security forces to bank robberies — and the agency says more arrests are coming.
Key Takeaways
The NIA , Manipur Police , and CRPF jointly arrested 10 accused on 19 June in Manipur ethnic violence cases.
Raids spanned seven districts : Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, and Pherzawl.
Accused are allegedly linked to attacks on security forces , arms looting , and bank robberies during the ethnic unrest.
The NIA is probing linkages between incidents and possible conspiracy networks; more arrests are expected.
Separately, the NIA charge-sheeted Shaik Mansoor in a 2025 Andhra Pradesh explosives case before the Special NIA Court in Vijayawada .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a joint operation with Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), arrested 10 accused on Friday, 19 June in connection with multiple cases of ethnic violence in Manipur. The coordinated crackdown targeted individuals allegedly involved in violent unrest that has gripped the north-eastern state.
Raids Across Seven Districts
Search operations were carried out simultaneously across seven districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, and Pherzawl. The NIA said the operations were conducted on the basis of extensive intelligence, technical, and field investigations carried out jointly with state police and central security agencies.
What the Accused Are Alleged to Have Done
According to the NIA, investigations across multiple cases revealed that the arrested individuals had played active roles in incidents of violence during the period of ethnic unrest. The alleged offences include attacks on security forces, looting of arms and ammunition, and bank robberies. The agency noted that arrests were made across communities, signalling a cross-community scope to the prosecutions.
The NIA stated it expects the arrests to yield significant information about the planning, execution, and support networks behind the violence. Investigators are also examining possible linkages between the various incidents and the individuals and groups allegedly involved in the broader conspiracy.
Agency's Stance on Ongoing Probe
The NIA described Friday's operations as 'a major step towards supporting the government's efforts to restore peace, security and normalcy' in Manipur. The agency confirmed that investigations in all registered cases related to the Manipur violence are continuing, and said more arrests may follow.
Separate NIA Action in Andhra Pradesh
In a separate development on the same day, the NIA filed a charge sheet against a second accused in a 2025 Andhra Pradesh explosives case. The charge sheet was filed before the Special NIA Court in Vijayawada, naming Shaik Mansoor, also known as Mohammed Ali and Vijayakumar, under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Shaik Mansoor is described as a close aide and co-conspirator of the earlier charge-sheeted accused, Shaik Amanulla alias Abubakar Siddique. Shaik Mansoor was arrested in December 2025 in connection with the recovery of explosives reportedly intended for use in terror acts. The NIA's dual-front action on Friday underscores the agency's expanded operational tempo across states.
Point of View
Both valley and hill areas, across communities. That framing is deliberate; the NIA is signalling it is not treating this as a single-community problem. What the arrests do not yet answer is whether the agency has reached organisers and financiers, or only foot soldiers. The mention of 'support networks' and 'conspiracy' linkages suggests the probe is still climbing the chain. Manipur's ethnic fault lines remain unresolved at the political level, and arrests alone will not substitute for a negotiated settlement — a point that mainstream coverage of the crackdown tends to underplay.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the NIA arrest 10 people in Manipur on 19 June?
The NIA, along with Manipur Police and CRPF, arrested 10 individuals allegedly involved in ethnic violence in Manipur, including attacks on security forces, looting of arms and ammunition, and bank robberies. The arrests followed multi-location raids across seven districts based on intelligence and field investigations.
Which districts were covered in the NIA raids in Manipur?
The joint search operations covered seven districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, and Pherzawl. The NIA said the operations were intelligence-led and targeted individuals from across communities.
Will there be more arrests in the Manipur ethnic violence cases?
Yes, the NIA has confirmed that investigations in all registered Manipur violence cases are ongoing and that more arrests may take place in the future. The agency is also examining possible linkages between various incidents and groups.
What is the separate Andhra Pradesh case the NIA acted on?
On the same day, the NIA filed a charge sheet against Shaik Mansoor, alias Mohammed Ali, before the Special NIA Court in Vijayawada in a 2025 case involving recovery of explosives intended for terror acts. He was arrested in December 2025 and is alleged to be a co-conspirator of an earlier charge-sheeted accused, Shaik Amanulla.
What does the NIA say about the broader conspiracy in Manipur?
The NIA stated it is examining possible linkages between the various incidents of violence, as well as the individuals and groups allegedly involved in the conspiracy. The agency expects the arrested accused to provide significant information about the planning, execution, and support networks behind the unrest.
