Imphal : The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Manipur No. 1, on January 29 took cognisance of the charge sheet filed against three accused in connection with the abduction and brutal killing of six persons-three women and three children, including an eight-month-old infant-in Manipur’s Jiribam district.

The accused have been identified as Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya (40) and Lalrosang Hmar alias Rosang (24), both residents of Moinathol village in Dilkhosh Grant area of Assam’s Cachar district, and Khopuimoi Hmar alias Puia (33) of Keisel Punji, Borobekra, Jiribam. All three are currently lodged at the Temporary Jail in Jiribam and were produced before the court through video conferencing.

After hearing submissions from the NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor and defence counsel, and perusing the materials on record, the court took cognisance of the charge sheet under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA had submitted the charge sheet along with the requisite prosecution sanction under the UAPA on January 23, 2026.

The court directed the investigating agency to supply copies of relevant charge sheet documents to the accused on or before February 10, 2026.

The case pertains to the abduction of six members of the Meitei community from Jakuradhor Karong in Jiribam district on November 11, 2024. The victims-Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31), Laishram Heitonbi (25), Telem Thajamanbi (8), Laishram Chingkheinganba (2) and Laishram Langamba (eight months)-were later found dead in the Barak River near the Manipur-Assam inter-State boundary.

According to investigators, the bodies were recovered in a decomposed condition and bore multiple injuries and signs of mutilation.

The incident had triggered widespread protests across the Imphal Valley, with agitated demonstrators targeting the residences of several Ministers and MLAs. Acting on directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA took over the probe after re-registering the FIR initially lodged at Borobekra Police Station.

During the investigation, Thanglienlal Hmar, identified as a key conspirator, was arrested on July 31, 2025, in a joint operation by the NIA and Assam Police. Two other accused were subsequently arrested, culminating in the filing of the charge sheet now taken cognisance of by the court.

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