Imphal, Oct 2: Amid tribal groups accusing the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Central Bureau of
Investigations (CBI) of high-handedness in Manipur, the central agencies on Monday said every arrest
made in the restive state, which has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May, is based on evidence
gathered by investigative teams.
The NIA and CBI officials working here in an ethnically charged environment have been facing the
daunting task of completing investigations in various cases, including those related to attacks on army
personnel in 2015, the probe agencies said.
Refuting the allegations levelled by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Front (ITLF), an organization claiming
to represent the Kuki-Zo community of Manipur hills, officials from both agencies said no partiality has
been shown against any community, religion or sect, and that only the rule book of the Indian Penal
Code was abided by.
Referring to the recent arrest of Seiminlun Gangte, a tribal, the officials said he is one of the key accused
in an SUV blast case that took place in the Kwakta area of Bishnupur district on June 21. Three people
were injured in the blast.
He was brought to New Delhi after securing his transit remand from the competent court. In the
national capital, the accused was produced before a designated court, which remanded him to NIA
custody, they added.
Due course of law is being followed and the evidence collected by the anti-terror agency will be placed
before the competent court, the officials further said, adding that baseless allegations were being made
only to derail the probe and create confusion among the general public.
On September 22, the NIA arrested Moirangthem Anand Singh from Imphal in connection with a
different case. Singh, along with four others, was arrested by the Manipur Police for possession of
weapons looted from the police armoury.
However, all five were bailed out, but Singh was arrested by the NIA for his involvement in terror
activities. He was brought to Delhi and is facing due legal process, the officials said.
Similarly, the arrests carried out by the CBI on Sunday were based on preliminary evidence collected
during its probe into the cases of two missing Manipuri students who are believed to have been killed,
its officials said.
All four were placed under arrest in a joint operation of the CBI, Manipur Police and the army to ensure
that there was no adverse law-and-order situation, they said.
More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke
out in Manipur on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest
against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.
Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. (PTI)
