Manipur violence: NIA apprehends suspected terrorist amid ethnic unrest

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• Sep 24, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Moirangthem Anand Singh, a suspected terrorist, for his purported connections with...

Digital Desk: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Moirangthem Anand Singh, a suspected terrorist, for his purported connections with Myanmar-based rebel groups and his alleged involvement in conspiring to wage war against India by capitalizing on the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, according to an official statement.

Singh was taken into custody in Manipur and subsequently transported to New Delhi for interrogation, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the NIA.

The suspect was one of five individuals previously arrested by Manipur Police for the possession of weapons believed to have been looted from a police armory. These arrests had sparked protests within the majority community, who contended that the detainees were village defense activists. A local court had granted bail to all five individuals on Friday.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, Singh was swiftly re-apprehended and relocated to an undisclosed location before being transferred to the national capital.

The NIA spokesperson disclosed that Singh's arrest was linked to a case involving a 'transnational conspiracy' orchestrated by Myanmar-based leaders of terror organizations with the aim of waging war against the Indian government by exploiting the prevailing ethnic tensions in Manipur.

The case, which was registered by the NIA on July 19 in New Delhi, revealed that as part of the conspiracy, banned terror groups have been actively recruiting sympathizers, overground workers, and cadre members to bolster their ranks for launching attacks on security forces and rival ethnic factions by exploiting the existing turmoil in the state.

Additionally, these groups have been procuring arms, ammunition, and explosives through unlawful means, including the plunder and pillaging of government facilities and resources.

Following Singh's arrival in Delhi on Saturday, he was presented before a local court, which remanded him to police custody for a period of five days, the NIA spokesperson confirmed.

The arrest of Moirangthem Anand Singh underscores the ongoing efforts of security agencies to combat terrorism and maintain stability in the region, particularly in the context of ethnic unrest and external influences.