MANIPUR BLAST PROBE EXPANDS AS NIA MAKES SECOND ARREST OVER DEATHS OF TWO CHILDREN

September 29, 2026

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a second accused in connection with an IED attack on a residential house in Manipur’s Bishnupur district that killed two minor children and injured another family member.

The accused has been identified as 48-year-old Thangmang Haokip of Churachandpur district. He was arrested on September 25 and subsequently produced before a Special NIA Court in Imphal, which remanded him to 12 days of police custody.

The attack took place on April 7 at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang, when an explosive device was allegedly launched from a hillside towards a residential area. The device struck the wall of a house, seriously injuring three members of a family. Two of them, both children, later died from their injuries. An unexploded improvised rocket-propelled grenade was also recovered near the site.

Haokip is the second person arrested in the case. The NIA had earlier arrested S. Palal Thadou Kuki on August 12; he is currently in judicial custody. The agency said Haokip’s alleged involvement emerged during its investigation.

The case was initially registered at Moirang Police Station before being taken over and re-registered by the NIA on April 23 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA is continuing its investigation to identify other persons allegedly involved in the attack and determine the wider network behind the incident.