Thadou Inpi Manipur has asked the government and NIA to explain the motive behind the Tronglaobi IED attack that killed two children and investigate its wider links.
Imphal, Oct. 1: Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has demanded that the government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) publicly explain the motive behind the April 7 IED attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Bishnupur district, in which two children were killed and their mother was injured.
The demand came after the NIA arrested a second accused in the case, 48-year-old Thangmang Haokip of Churachandpur, on September 25. He was subsequently produced before the Special NIA Court-II in Imphal, which remanded him to 12 days of police custody. The agency has said further investigation is underway to identify other persons allegedly involved and establish the wider network behind the attack.
The NIA case record states that an explosive or bomb was launched from the hill side of Gelmol towards Tronglaobi Awang Leikai on April 7 and exploded at the residential wall of a house.
According to Manipur Police, S. Palal Kuki was apprehended on July 23 and was identified during questioning as the finance head of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA). Police said their investigation subsequently found him to be one of the main persons involved in the Tronglaobi case. The NIA arrested him on August 12 in connection with case RC-04/2026/NIA/IMP.
The explosion seriously injured three members of the family. The two children, a five-year-old boy and a five-month-old girl, later succumbed to their injuries, according to the NIA-linked case details. An unexploded improvised RPG was also recovered near the site, according to reports on the NIA investigation.
In its statement, TIM said the attack took place on the day of the 8th Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival in Imphal. The organisation also claimed that Thadou people had received threats over participation in the festival in the days preceding the attack.
TIM said it had publicly raised concerns about the threats six days before the bombing and had submitted a formal petition to the government on March 10, 2025, concerning threats it attributed to Kuki militant groups.
The organisation has asked the NIA to establish whether the attack was connected to the festival, the alleged threats and the Covenant of Community Understanding signed on August 6, 2025.
However, the NIA's publicly available case description currently records the April 7 incident and the subsequent investigation but does not state a publicly established motive for the attack.
TIM has therefore demanded that the NIA explain in its chargesheet why the particular house and date were allegedly selected and identify those who planned, ordered, financed, armed or sheltered the perpetrators.
The organisation has also called for investigation into what it describes as possible links between the UKNA and other Kuki armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework, as well as associated civil society organisations.
TIM specifically asked the NIA to examine whether groups associated with the United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), along with affiliated organisations, had any role in the bombing.
These claims and alleged organisational links were made by TIM in its statement and have not been established by the NIA in the public case information reviewed for this report. The NIA has said that its investigation is continuing and that it is seeking to establish the wider network involved in the attack.
TIM also called for action against armed groups allegedly involved in extortion and demanded that organisations found to be engaged in terrorism be dealt with under applicable law.
The organisation further urged the governments of India and Manipur to disclose what action was taken after its alleged advance warning and to ensure stronger protection for civilians and communities across the state.
The statement called on indigenous communities in Manipur to oppose violence and support measures aimed at protecting civilians from attacks and intimidation.
