NIA Nabs Two More in Manipur CM Convoy Ambush, Unraveling Larger Plot

India's top counter-terrorism agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has arrested two more people in connection with the 2024 ambush on the convoy of then Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. Jangminlun Singson, 44, and Thangjoel Haokip, 21, both from Churachandpur district, were taken into custody on September 29, 2026, bringing the total arrests in this high-profile case to four. These arrests are a significant step in uncovering the full scale of the conspiracy behind the attack that injured two security personnel. The June 10, 2024 incident saw armed miscreants attack the CM's advance security convoy on National Highway-37, a route critical for connecting the state's capital with its hill districts, particularly as it was heading towards Jiribam, a region already facing unrest. This ambush is part of the broader, ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur that erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, claiming over 300 lives and displacing tens of thousands. The NIA deeper investigation suggests linkages between the accused and wider networks, including allegations of Kuki and Zomi militant groups aiming for a separate state and receiving support from Myanmar. With the accused now in eight-day police custody after being presented before a Special NIA court in Thoubal, the agency is intensifying its efforts to identify other conspirators and understand their specific roles. The ongoing arrests, including recent detentions of top insurgent leaders like the UKNA chief, signal a concentrated push by central agencies to dismantle the militant infrastructure fueling the state's prolonged instability. The outcome of these investigations is crucial for restoring peace and order in Manipur, a state grappling with complex inter-ethnic tensions and cross-border influences.