Koutruk drone attack accused remanded to judicial custody
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 01 2025: Special Court, NIA Manipur No 1 on Monday remanded Samuel Thongcianhao Vaiphei, an alleged Kuki militant, to judicial custody till July 13 in connection with the deadly drone bombing and gunfire incident at Koutruk and Kadangband on September 1 last year.

Samuel Vaiphei of L Lumlui village, Leimakhong, Kangpokpi district, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Imphal Branch, on June 22 and kept in the NIA custody for interrogation.

After completion of the remand period, NIA produced the accused before the Special Court NIA Manipur No 1 on Monday and prayed for his remand in judicial custody.

The court, after hearing submissions from the Special Public Prosecutor of NIA and examining the case records, remanded Samuel to judicial custody till July 13 .

The case pertains to an incident when on September 1, 2024, around 2:30 pm, suspected Kuki militants carried out an aerial bombing using drones, followed by indiscriminate firing with sophisticated weapons towards Koutruk Ching Leikai from the nearby hillock.

The attack resulted in the death of a 31 year-old worn an and left her nine-year-old daughter seriously injured.

The attack was part of a wave of violence in the state that drew widespread condemnation.

The use of drones and high-grade weaponry marked a significant escalation in tactics, prompting NIA to take over the investigation, amid denials by military officials on use of drones.

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