Court remands UKNA C-in-C to judicial custody
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 09 2026: The Court of Special Judge of NIA, Manipur has remanded the Commander-in-Chief of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) to judicial custody in connection with the April 7, 2026 bomb attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai that claimed the lives of two children and left their mother grievously injured.

Accused, UKNA Commander-in-Chief Thangmang Haokip alias Thangkhomang (48), son of Lunkhulam of Songkhong village under Henglep sub-division in Churachandpur district, was produced before the Court through video conferencing from the NIA branch office in Guwahati after completion of his custody remand, today.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought his remand in judicial custody.

After hearing the submissions of the Special Public Prosecutor (PP) for the NIA and perusing the case records, the Court remanded the accused to judicial custody till October 22 to facilitate further investigation into the case.

The UKNA chief was arrested from Aizawl, Mizoram, on September 24 .

He was brought to Imphal after obtaining five days' transit remand from the competent Magistrate in Aizawl.

He was first produced before the same Court on September 28 and remanded to NIA custody.

He was subsequently taken to the NIA branch office in Guwahati on the same day.

Earlier, on July 23, a joint team of the Indian Army and CRPF personnel had arrested S Palal Thadou, finance chief of the UKNA, from Old Gelmol village in Churachandpur district.

The NIA subsequently took him into custody on August 12 in connection with the case, after which he was remanded to judicial custody.

The arrest of the UKNA commander-in-chief marks the second arrest made by the NIA in connection with the April 7 bomb attack at Tronglaobi.

It may be recalled that at around 1 am on April 7, an IED explosion at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai killed five-year-old Oinam Tomthin and his five-month-old sister, Oinam Yaisana, while they were asleep.

Their mother, Oinam Ongbi Binita, sustained serious injuries.

The explosive allegedly fired by Kuki militants struck the northern window of their residence.

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