The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken two Kuki student leaders from Manipur into custody following an operation conducted in Mizoram's capital, Aizawl, on Thursday. The detentions occurred at a hospitality establishment in the Khatla locality of the city, coming on the heels of another high-profile interception where federal operatives, working alongside the Assam Rifles, captured United Kuki National Army (UKNA) chief Thangkhomang Haokip and his driver on the city outskirts.
Targeted Interception Across Multiple Locations
Federal personnel coordinated closely with the Assam Rifles to first apprehend Haokip, recognized as the commander-in-chief of the UKNA, along with the driver operating his vehicle on the periphery of Aizawl. Shortly after securing the insurgent leader, investigators moved into a hotel situated in the Khatla neighbourhood to detain the two Manipur-based student representatives. All four individuals are currently held in federal custody as questioning proceeds.
Criminal Record and Clarification on SIB Involvement
Security officials noted that Haokip has been pursued in connection with multiple serious criminal cases documented across Manipur. Precise allegations and specific legal charges levelled against the two detained student leaders were not immediately disclosed. Addressing operational details, an official explicitly clarified that the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) played no role in planning or executing the arrests, dismissing earlier suggestions regarding the bureau's active involvement in the joint sweep.
The Non-SoO Insurgent Group and Highway Ambush
The UKNA operates outside the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework, as it never signed the tripartite agreement with security authorities. The armed outfit stands accused of orchestrating multiple violent attacks in the region, most notably the June 10, 2024, ambush targeting an advance security convoy of then Chief Minister N Biren Singh near Kotlen along National Highway-37, the Imphal-Jiribam road in Kangpokpi district.
