Imphal (Manipur), July 10: A Kuki couple was arrested in Kangpokpi district for their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of six Naga men, an incident that triggered fresh unrest across Manipur last month.
Police said a joint team of state police and paramilitary forces raided Leilon Vaiphei village in the early hours based on specific inputs. The arrested have been identified as Pradip and his wife Ayingbi, both residents of the village.
According to officials, the couple is accused of involvement in the abduction of at least six Naga civilians on May 13. The bodies were recovered on June 11 from a forest area in Kangpokpi, sparking widespread protests and demands for justice from Naga organizations.
The May 13 violence also saw over 50 people from Kuki and Naga communities taken hostage by different armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. In Kangpokpi, three church leaders were killed and four others injured during the same clashes.
Following public outrage, the Kuki-Zo Council, the apex body of Kuki-Zo communities, issued an unconditional apology and called for a fair and impartial probe. Naga bodies, however, rejected the apology as “insincere” and pressed for immediate arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
Police said interrogation of the arrested couple is underway to trace other suspects linked to the abductions. Security has been heightened in sensitive pockets of Kangpokpi to prevent any flare-up.
Authorities said the case is being investigated in connection with the larger chain of hostage-takings reported in May, as the state looks to contain tensions between the communities.
