Killing of two CRPF by Kuki militants at Naranseina Maning NIA set to begin test identification parade

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 18 : The NIA is all set to begin a test iden-tification parade (TIP) for the case pertaining to the killing of two CRPF by Kuki mili-tants at Naranseina Maning on April 27, 2024 against accused Thongminthang Haokip who is a cadre of Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNF-MC).
The primary purpose of TIP is to verify the identity of a suspect or accused person through witness identi- fication.
Today, the NIA, Imphal Branch produced Thong-minthang Haokip before the Special Court of NIA, Manipur with a prayer to let them conduct TIP against the accused.
The Court accepted the application.
Notably, Thongminthang Haokip alias Roger (38) s/o (L) Holkhasei of Malhoi (S), Churachandpur is currently lodged in Rohini Jail in New Delhi.
The case pertains to the attack on the CRPF deployed on the western side of 2nd IRB Headquarters at Naranseina Maning on April 27 last year by Kuki militants who were armed with  sophisticated weapons and bombs.
Two CRPF personnel were killed in the attack while two others sustained injuries.
Notably, the case was taken over by the NIA from Moirang police following a direction by the Ministry of Home Affairs in June last year.
What NIA says
Thongminthang Haokip has been revealed to be the prime suspect of the case during the course of investigation.
Statements of two witnesses have been recorded and they are willing to identify the accused.
The defence counsel who were present during the hearing held through video conferencing said they have no objection to the prayer as long as TIP is conducted as per legal requirements
The Special Court, after hearing the NIA and the defence counsel, approved the prayer to conduct TIP against the accused.
The Court, however, directed that TIP has to be conducted at the earliest by observing due process of law at Rohini Jail. The NIA has also been directed to approach the Sessions Judge who has jurisdiction in the area or the concerned Special Court, NIA, New Delhi to depute a Magistrate for conducting TIP.
Thongminthang Haokip was arrested on June 6, 2024 from Imphal Airport in connection with another case taken up by NIA regarding a transnational conspiracy by insurgent and terrorist outfits to exacerbate violence in Manipur and spread terror in the Northeastern part of the country.
As per NIA, the accused was involved in attacks on security forces at various places amid the unrest in Manipur and he was in touch with the leaders of Kuki National Front (KNF-B) based  in Myanmar seeking logistic support to aggravate the volatile situation in Manipur.