The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested S Palal Thadou, an accused in the April 7 improvised explosive device (IED) attack that killed two minors at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang town, Manipur, officials said. The agency said the arrest marked its first apprehension in the probe into the residential-house bombing in Bishnupur district.
Thadou was produced before the Special NIA Court in Imphal and remanded to 10 days of police custody, the agency said. Manipur Police stated that during interrogation the accused admitted to serving as the "finance head" of the proscribed United Kuki National Army (UKNA).
Investigations, prior arrests and alleged involvement in other attacks
Manipur Police noted that Thadou had earlier been taken into custody by Churachandpur and Bishnupur police in connection with separate cases. Law enforcement agencies said a combination of human intelligence, interrogation and technical inputs from digital forensics experts helped uncover alleged plans and operations involving Thadou and other UKNA operatives.
Authorities have linked the accused to several other violent incidents in the state. The police statement cited alleged involvement in a blast at Tronglaobi on December 16, 2025, and a firing episode in the Molnom area during the intervening night of February 3 and 4, 2026. He was also said to have been connected to a firing incident at Kaprang on July 4 — preceding the then-Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's visit to Churachandpur — along with other firing incidents reported on March 26 and July 4 this year.
"NIA has arrested him as part of its efforts to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the terror act, making him the first accused to be arrested in the case," the agency said.
Case re-registered, legal provisions invoked
The NIA took over the investigation into the April 7 IED attack and re-registered the case on April 23. The matter has been investigated under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the agency said in a statement.
Further inquiries are under way to identify and apprehend other persons allegedly involved and to establish the wider network behind the attack, the NIA added. Investigators signalled ongoing coordination with state police and forensic teams as the probe continues.
Timeline of incidents linked to the accused
| Date | Incident | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2026 | IED blast at a residential house; two children killed | Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, Moirang, Bishnupur district |
| 16 December 2025 | Bomb blast (alleged link) | Tronglaobi |
| 3–4 Feb 2026 (night) | Firing incident | Molnom area |
| 26 March 2026 | Firing incidents (alleged link) | Not specified |
| 4 July 2026 | Firing at Kaprang; other firing incidents | Kaprang and other locations |
Security and public-safety implications
The arrest is likely to shape the probe into the Moirang blast and related violent events across southern and central Manipur. The state has seen periodic incidents of targeted bombings and firing in recent months, raising concerns about the operational reach of proscribed groups. The NIA's invocation of national security laws indicates the probe is being pursued at the federal level, with emphasis on uncovering any broader conspiracy or logistics networks.
Security agencies have underscored the continuing need for public cooperation and timely flow of intelligence. Officials said forensic and technical leads from digital-examination teams were crucial to recent breakthroughs in the investigation.
What investigators say will follow
- Further interrogation of the arrested accused to delineate the alleged network and funding channels.
- Identification and apprehension of additional suspects linked to the April 7 IED blast and other incidents.
- Continued collaboration between NIA, state police and forensic specialists for technical corroboration.
The NIA and state police gave no immediate timeline for the completion of the inquiry. Court-mandated custody will enable continued questioning and evidence-gathering as the probe progresses.
