In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a key conspirator in the gruesome abduction and murder of three women and three children from Manipur’s Jiribam district in November 2024.

According to officials, the victims were abducted by militants and brutally killed in the Borobekra area of the strife-torn district on November 11 last year. Their bodies were later disposed of in the Barak River.

The arrested accused, identified as Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya, a resident of Moinathol Dilkshosh Ghaat in Assam’s Cachar district, was apprehended by a joint team of the NIA and Assam Police. A mobile phone and SIM card were recovered from his possession.

An official NIA statement confirmed that Boya played an active role in both the planning and execution of the heinous crime. The central agency had taken over the case from the local Borobekra Police and is continuing its investigation.

Earlier this month, the Manipur High Court directed the NIA to submit a detailed progress report on the case. The order came in response to a petition filed by Soram Tekendrajit. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice K. Somasekhar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh, also cautioned the agency against undue delays in filing the chargesheet.