NIA Makes First Arrest In Connection To January 2024 Manipur Civilian Killings

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its first arrest in connection with the brutal killing of four civilians in January in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. Lunminsei Kipgen, also known by various aliases such as Langinmang, Mang, and Levi, was detained on Saturday by the NIA from Central Jail at Lokhra in Assam’s Guwahati under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act.

“Lunminsei Kipgen is the first accused to be arrested for the gruesome killings that had taken place on 18th January 2024, when armed miscreants had brutally murdered four civilians near the water treatment plant located Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, Bishnupur. The assailants had opened indiscriminate fire from sophisticated weapons, leading to the tragic death of the civilians on the fateful afternoon,” stated the NIA.

The NIA, which registered the case (RC-01/2024/NIA/IMP) on February 9 this year, discovered during its investigation that Kipgen played an active role in the fatal attack, which was part of the ongoing ethnic unrest and violence in Manipur. Previously a member of the Kuki militant group KNF (P), Kipgen had recently joined another Kuki militant organization, the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), and was involved in the horrific killings, according to the agency.