NIA makes first arrest in Manipur IED attack that killed 2 children

The accused arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with an IED attack at a residential house in Manipur's Bishnupur District that killed two children in April, was the "finance head" of a banned outfit and involved in five other firing cases, police said on Thursday.

The NIA on Wednesday apprehended S Palal Thadou, marking its first arrest in the improvised explosive device attack, which took place in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai locality of Moirang town on April 7.

The blast resulted in the death of two minors and injuries to another person.

Thadou was earlier arrested by the Churachandpur and Bishnupur Police in connection with separate cases.

During the course of investigation, the accused admitted that he was the “finance head” of the proscribed outfit UKNA, the Manipur Police said in a statement. 

"During the last couple of weeks, through diligent and sustained investigation coupled with human intelligence, interrogation techniques with technical indicators provided by digital forensics experts, security forces successfully uncovered subversive plans and operations conducted by the individual with other UKNA operatives," it said.

Thadou was also “found involved” in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi on December 16 last year, as well as in a firing incident on the intervening night of February 3 and February 4, 2026 at Molnom, the statement said. 

“He was also involved in a firing incident at Kaprang area on July 4, on the eve of Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh's visit to Churachandpur, as well as in firing incidents on July 4… and March 26 this year,” it said.

The investigation into the April 7 IED attack was taken over by the NIA and re-registered on April 23, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Substances Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, a statement issued by the agency said.

"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," it said.

The accused was produced before the special NIA court in Imphal and has been remanded to 10 days police custody, it said.

Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the conspiracy and to ascertain the larger network behind the attack, the probe agency said.