NIA arrests first accused in Manipur IED attack that killed two children

Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an accused in connection with an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on a residential house in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.

The incident occurred at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang, Bishnupur district, on April 7 this year and resulted in the deaths of two minor children and injuries to another person.

According to Manipur Police, a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed, while their mother sustained serious injuries when suspected Kuki militants hurled a powerful bomb at their home in Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district on April 7 while the victims were asleep.


An official statement said the case was originally registered at Moirang Police Station following an attack in which unknown militants launched an explosive device from a hillside towards Tronglaobi Awang Leikai.

The explosion struck the residential wall of a house, seriously injuring three family members, including two minor children who later succumbed to their injuries. An unexploded improvised RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) was also recovered near the site.

The investigation was subsequently taken over by the NIA, which re-registered the case on April 23, 2026, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the statement said.

During the investigation, the involvement of accused S. Palal Thadou in the commission of the offence came to light. Thadou was initially arrested by Churachandpur Police in connection with the FIR and subsequently by Bishnupur Police in connection with another FIR registered at PGCI Police Station.

The NIA 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 accused was produced before the Special NIA Court in Imphal, which remanded him to 10 days of police custody.

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