The Crime Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made a significant breakthrough in the case of the alleged abduction and murder of two Meitei students in Manipur. Officials revealed that a 22-year-old man, Paolun Mang, was arrested on Wednesday in Pune, Maharashtra, marking the fifth arrest in this ongoing investigation.
Paolun Mang’s arrest is a crucial development in the case, as officials believe his role was prominent in the abduction and murder of the two missing students. He was produced before a CBI court, which subsequently ordered his detention in police custody until October 16. An unnamed CBI official stated, “Mang is being questioned based on the interrogation of the four people who were arrested earlier.”
The initial arrests took place on October 1 when a CBI-led team, in collaboration with security forces, apprehended four suspects – two men, Paominlun Haokip and S Malsawm Haokip, and two women, Lhingneichong Baitekuki and Tinneilhing Henthang. These individuals were believed to be connected to the alleged abduction and killing of the two students belonging to the Meitei group.
The investigation has revealed that Phijam Hemanjit Singh (20) and Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam (17) were abducted on July 6 by Kuki militants in Laimaton. Although their bodies have yet to be recovered, photographs that surfaced in September suggested that they had tragically lost their lives.
For over two months, the families of the missing students believed that their children were alive but held somewhere in the ethnically troubled region of Manipur. However, the discovery of photos on social media changed the narrative, leading to protests across the state.
One photograph showed the students sitting on the ground in a forest setting, with two armed individuals in the background. Another image seemed to depict them lifeless, still wearing the same clothes as in the first photograph. The authenticity of these images could not be independently verified.
The revelations triggered further protests, with a significant gathering attempting to storm the private residence of Chief Minister Biren Singh in Luwangsangbam on September 28. Law enforcement and security forces had to employ tear gas shells to quell the demonstrations.
A specialized CBI team, led by senior officer Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, was dispatched to Imphal to investigate the alleged murder of the two students. The CBI continues to search for LHingneichong’s husband, Wohkhogin Baite, alias Tiger (36), a suspected militant believed to be the main perpetrator in this tragic case.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work diligently to uncover the truth surrounding this heart-wrenching incident.
Sources by Agenies
