Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday said the state government is taking all necessary steps to ensure justice in the Leilon Vaiphei abduction and murder case, announcing the arrest of two suspects during a joint operation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said the arrests were made based on information provided by the victims’ families. The two accused, identified as Ayingbi and Pradip, are a local couple allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of six civilians.
Recalling the sequence of events, Khemchand said three pastors were killed in an ambush by unidentified assailants on May 13. He said around 18 people were later taken hostage by suspected militants at Leilon Vaiphei village. While 12 of them were released, six were allegedly abducted and later killed.
The Chief Minister said he had visited Makhan village after the incident along with Meitei and Naga legislators to meet the bereaved families. During the visit, family members reportedly identified five people suspected of involvement in the crime.
Khemchand said the state police and the NIA have been directed to trace and arrest all remaining accused linked to the case.
The arrests come amid growing pressure from Naga civil society organisations seeking justice for the victims. The United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga Women’s Union (NWU) have demanded the immediate arrest of all those allegedly involved in the incident.
The victims’ families have also refused to claim the bodies of the six deceased, which are currently kept at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal, insisting that they will do so only after all those responsible are brought to justice.
The UNC and NWU have called for a time-bound and impartial investigation by the NIA to ensure that every person involved in the killings is prosecuted. They have also sought the arrest of the Leilon Vaiphei village chief, members of the local women’s society and others alleged to have facilitated the handover of the hostages.
In addition, the organisations have reiterated their demand for the removal of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, alleging a conflict of interest over her reported family links with Kuki militant groups.
The Chief Minister said security agencies remain on alert and reiterated that the government is committed to taking strict action against those responsible for the killings.