The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency, Manipur Number 1 took cognisance of the charge sheet filed in connection with the abduction and killing of six members of the Meitei community in Jiribam district. The case relates to the death of three women and three children, including an eight-month-old infant, in an incident that had shocked Manipur and triggered widespread public outrage.
The court took cognisance of the charge sheet against three accused—Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya (40), Lalrosang Hmar alias Rosang (24), and Khopuimoi Hmar alias Puia (33). Thanglienlal Hmar and Lalrosang Hmar are residents of Moinathol village in Dilkhosh Grant, Cachar district of Assam, while Khopuimoi Hmar is from Keisel Punji in Borobekra area of Jiribam district. All three accused are currently lodged at the Temporary Jail in Jiribam and were produced before the court through video conferencing.
After hearing submissions from the Special Public Prosecutor of the NIA and the defence counsel, and after examining the materials placed on record, the court took cognisance of offences under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA had submitted the charge sheet along with the required prosecution sanction under the UAPA on January 23, 2026.
The court also directed the investigating agency to provide copies of all relevant charge sheet documents to the accused on or before February 10, 2026, in line with legal procedure to ensure a fair trial.
The case dates back to November 11, 2024, when six members of the Meitei community were abducted from Jakuradhor Karong village in Jiribam district. The victims were identified as Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31), Laishram Heitonbi (25), Telem Thajamanbi (8), Laishram Chingkheinganba (2), and Laishram Langamba, an eight-month-old infant.
Days after the abduction, the bodies of all six victims were recovered from the Barak River near the Manipur–Assam inter-State boundary. The bodies were found in a decomposed condition and bore multiple injuries, along with signs of severe mutilation. The discovery sent shockwaves across the state and deepened public anger over the incident.
Following the recovery of the bodies, large-scale protests erupted across the Imphal Valley. Angry demonstrators took to the streets, and in several places, residences of Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly were targeted. The situation prompted heightened security measures, as the incident added to the already tense atmosphere in the state.
Initially, a case was registered at Borobekra Police Station in Jiribam district. However, considering the seriousness of the crime and its wider implications, the investigation was later handed over to the NIA on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The agency re-registered the FIR and began a detailed probe into the incident.
During the course of the investigation, the NIA arrested Thanglienlal Hmar, who was identified as a key conspirator in the case, on July 31, 2025, in a joint operation with the Assam Police. Subsequently, two more accused were arrested, leading to the completion and filing of the charge sheet now taken up by the special court.
