The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a second accused in connection with the improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Bishnupur District, Manipur, that claimed the lives of two minor children on 7 April 2026. The arrest marks a significant step forward in an investigation that has already netted one suspect and is now probing a wider conspiracy network.

The Arrest and Accused

Thangmang Haokip of Churachandpur, Manipur, was taken into custody by the NIA on 25 September 2026. He is the second accused arrested in the case, following S. Palal Thadout Kuki, who was apprehended on 12 August 2026 and remains in judicial custody. Haokip was subsequently produced before the Special NIA Court-II, Imphal, which remanded him to 12 days of police custody.

What Happened in the April Attack

The case — registered as RC-04/2026/NIA/IMP — was initially filed at Moirang Police Station after unknown militants launched an explosive device from a hillside targeting Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Bishnupur District. The projectile struck the wall of a residential house, seriously injuring three family members. Two of the victims, both minor children, later succumbed to their injuries. An unexploded improvised RPG was also recovered near the site, according to the NIA.

The NIA formally re-registered the case on 23 April 2026 under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The involvement of Thangmang Haokip reportedly surfaced during the course of the investigation that followed.

Separate NIA Action in Assam

In a separate development on the same day, the NIA arrested Mustafizur Rahman from his residence in the Azad Nagar area of Barpeta Road, Assam, as part of an ongoing probe into alleged jihadi activities. An NIA team carried out a search operation at his residence, during which his mobile phone was reportedly seized.

The arrest came approximately two months after Rahman was released from Guwahati Central Jail, where he had been lodged following an earlier arrest by the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) on 14 March 2026 — also from Azad Nagar, Barpeta Road. At that time, the STF had reportedly seized electronic devices and other materials from his possession. His latest re-arrest signals that central agencies have placed him under renewed scrutiny.

Investigation Ongoing

The NIA has stated that further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the Manipur attack conspiracy, and to map the larger network behind it. This is the agency's second major arrest in the Bishnupur case within six weeks, suggesting the probe is progressing at pace. The wider security situation in Manipur has remained fragile since ethnic violence flared across the state in mid-2023, and targeted civilian attacks have kept counter-terrorism agencies on high alert.