NIA Arrests Key Accused From Cachar in Jiribam Massacre of 6 Meiteis Including 3 Children

In a major breakthrough on Thursday noon (July 31), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a motorised boatman from Fulertal ferry ghat in Cachar’s Lakhipur subdivision for his alleged involvement in the gruesome Jiribam massacre case in Manipur. The accused has been identified as Thanglienlal Hmar (approx. 40), a resident of Moynathal Punji under Dilkhush GP in Lakhipur.

According to sources, acting on specific NIA input, Lakhipur Co-District Additional SP Prithviraj Rajkhowa, along with a police team, intercepted Thanglienlal Hmar’s motor boat as it docked at Fulertal ferry ghat and arrested him. He was brought to Lakhipur Police Station, where an NIA investigation team arrived shortly after. Following preliminary interrogation, Thanglienlal was taken to Jiribam. He has been booked under NIA Case No. RC-15/2024/NIA/IMP, which pertains to the kidnapping and murder of six Meitei women and children in Jiribam on November 11, 2024.

The NIA stated that investigations have revealed Thanglinlal, also known as Boya, was actively involved in the conspiracy and execution of the horrendous crime. On that day, six members of the same Meitei family — including an infant — were abducted from the Bokobera neighbourhood in Jiribam, Manipur and later murdered. Days later, their mutilated bodies were found floating in the Barak River.

The victims-Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telam Thobi Devi (31), Telam Thajamanbi Devi (8), Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh (2.5), and Laishram Langamba Singh (8 months) were allegedly abducted from a relief camp near Borobekra Police Station at Jakuradhor on the night of November 7. The following week, their bodies were recovered from areas such as Jirighat and Singirbond in the Cachar district.

The arrest comes just two days after the Manipur High Court granted the NIA a final one-month extension to file a chargesheet in the case. The agency had submitted two sealed cover reports on the progress of the probe, which are being held in the custody of the Registrar General until further orders.

Meanwhile, Thanglinlal’s family has claimed he is innocent and was only a boat operator earning his livelihood. His sister told reporters at Lakhipur Police Station, “Six kidnappers forcibly took his motor launch. If he had refused, they would have killed him. He ferried them out of fear for his life. He has a wife and eight young children to feed. He is the only earning member of the family.”

The family further stated that Thanglinlal had been questioned by Jakhurador Police Station in Manipur about two months ago in the same case and was released with instructions to report again if called. “Today, while bringing passengers to Fulertal to pay his son’s hostel fees, he was suddenly arrested,” the relatives said.

The NIA investigation into the Jiribam massacre continues, with more arrests likely in the coming days.