In a significant breakthrough, a joint team of the Assam Rifles and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested a top leader of the Kuki National Army (KNA), identified as Kamginthang Gangte, the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anand and the ambush that left three police commandos injured in Moreh.

The arrest was made following a special operation conducted at Mandoi Veng under the jurisdiction of Moreh Police Station in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district. During the operation, the team recovered a 9 mm pistol, a magazine, and several incriminating documents.

Authorities said Gangte, also known as K. Guite in some reports, was directly responsible for the sniper attack that killed SDPO Anand on October 31, 2023. The SDPO was overseeing helicopter landing preparations at Eastern Ground in Moreh when he was fatally shot by a sniper.

In the aftermath of the assassination, a team of Manipur police commandos dispatched to Moreh came under ambush by suspected Kuki militants between Sinam and Bungyang villages, leading to injuries to three personnel.

Meanwhile, the joint Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Moreh have condemned the arrest, alleging procedural lapses during the operation. In a public statement, the CSOs accused Lt. Col. Nitin Sharma of the 5 Assam Rifles of acting with bias and serving personal interests. In protest, the CSOs have called for a 24-hour shutdown in Moreh, which is currently underway.