Imphal : The arrest of a prime accused by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the 2023 killing of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chingtham Anandakumar Singh has triggered fresh tensions in Moreh, with protests erupting and an emergency shutdown enforced in parts of Tengnoupal district.

In a statement, the NIA identified the accused as Otkhothang Baite, also known as Othang Baite, a resident of Moreh. He is alleged to have been part of a conspiracy linked to an attack by suspected Kuki militants on a district police team at a playground on October 31, 2023, during the peak of ethnic violence in Manipur.

According to the agency, SDPO Chingtham Anandakumar Singh sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen during the attack. The case, initially registered by Moreh Police, was taken over by the NIA in March 2024. Investigators have described the conspiracy as an attempt to spread terror in the region.

The agency also noted that another  accused, Kamginthang Gangte, had been arrested earlier this month in connection with the same case. Probe in the matter, registered as RC-02/2024/NIA/IMP, is ongoing.

The arrest, however, sparked immediate backlash on the ground. The Kuki Women Union & Human Rights (KWU&HR), Moreh Block, called for an emergency shutdown beginning around mid-afternoon, bringing normal life in the border town to a halt.

Protests intensified as large groups of women gathered and marched to the Moreh Police Station, demanding the immediate release of Baite, whom they described as a “village volunteer.” Demonstrators later moved towards the Tengnoupal district administration offices, further escalating tensions.

Sources said the situation remained volatile through the evening, with local organisations condemning the arrest as unjust and calling for his release. Security forces have been placed on alert amid fears of further unrest in the sensitive border region.