Ukhrul, July 31: In a significant breakthrough in the infamous Jiribam killings case, a joint team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Assam Police have arrested a key accused, identified as Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya.
The accused, a resident of Moinathol village in Dilkshosh Ghaat in Cachar district, Assam, was arrested from Assam on Friday, the top anti-terror investigation agency said in a statement.
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Investigations have revealed that Boya was actively involved in the conspiracy and execution of the horrendous crime, the NIA stated.
Six Meitei women and children (from the same family), including an infant, were abducted and subsequently murdered in Jiribam district of Manipur on November 11, 2024.
The arrest comes two days after the Manipur High Court issued a final one-month extension to the NIA to file a chargesheet in the case within a month. The NIA had submitted two sealed cover reports outlining the current state of the probe. The documents have been ordered to be kept in the custody of the Registrar General until further direction.
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NIA, which took over the case from the Borobekra police, is continuing with its investigation in the case RC-15/2024/NIA/ IMP, the NIA added.
The mutilated bodies of the Meitei women and children, who were kidnapped from the Bokobera neighbourhood in Jiribam November 2024, were found floating in the Barak river days later. The victims were identified as Yumrembam Rani Devi, 60; Telem Thoibi Devi, 31 and her daughter Telem Thajamanbi Devi 8; Laishram Heithoibi Dev, 25; and her two children Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh, 3; and 10-month-old Laishram Lamnganba Singh.
The case has been remaining unresolved for over eight months, drawing widespread public concern.