In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the 2024 Jiribam killings, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its second arrest in the case. The arrested individual has been identified as Lalrosang Hmar alias Rosang, a resident of Moinathol village in Dilkhosh Grant, Cachar district of Assam. The arrest comes as part of the agency’s expanding probe into inter-state insurgency and targeted killings in the northeastern region of India.

The development underscores the widening footprint of the investigation and the growing cross-border linkages being unraveled between insurgent elements operating in Manipur and parts of Assam.

Arrest made in Cachar, Assam

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, NIA officials apprehended Rosang from a remote village in Assam's Cachar district. According to sources in the agency, the suspect is believed to have direct links with militant elements allegedly involved in the May-June 2024 ethnic violence and killings in Jiribam district of Manipur.

The arrest marks the second consecutive breakthrough in the case after another accused was nabbed last month. Lalrosang Hmar is now being interrogated for his role in the conspiracy, planning, and execution of the killings that have triggered wide-scale concern about deteriorating law and order in Jiribam.

The NIA believes Rosang had a key role in either coordinating logistics or being part of the armed group responsible for the brutal killings, although exact details remain under investigation. His arrest has added new dimensions to the ongoing inquiry into insurgent networks, arms smuggling, and cross-border safe havens.

The Jiribam killings: Background

The Jiribam killings refer to a series of targeted murders and violent incidents that occurred in early 2024 in the Jiribam district of Manipur, a sensitive region located on the state’s western border with Assam. The violence, which started in late May, claimed the lives of multiple civilians, including members of the Kuki and Meitei communities, exacerbating already tense ethnic fault lines in the state.

According to initial reports, heavily armed men attacked isolated villages and roadways, allegedly targeting specific individuals in a coordinated series of attacks. The motive, while still under official investigation, appears to involve ethnic tensions, insurgency-linked retribution, and attempts to disrupt peace and security in the border districts.

The NIA was handed over the case by the Ministry of Home Affairs after local police sought central assistance to tackle what was suspected to be a well-orchestrated terror operation.

NIA’s widening net in Northeast India

The arrest of Lalrosang Hmar signifies the NIA’s continued efforts to penetrate the deeper layers of insurgent activity in India’s Northeast. The region, historically prone to ethnic unrest and separatist violence, has seen a revival of targeted killings and cross-border militant movement in recent years, particularly amid the ethnic clashes in Manipur in 2023–24.

The NIA has been actively investigating multiple cases involving banned outfits, splinter groups, and radicalised youth networks operating in Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The agency suspects that insurgent groups, some of whom enjoy support from sympathisers in neighbouring states or even across international borders, are attempting to reignite tensions and destabilise fragile peace accords.

Rosang’s arrest could prove instrumental in uncovering the chain of command, arms supply routes, and safe houses used by insurgent operatives. Officials also suspect that he may have links with more than one banned outfit, though they have not officially named any particular organisation yet.

Inter-agency collaboration

The successful arrest operation was reportedly carried out in collaboration with local Assam Police units, who provided assistance in tracking and securing the suspect. The coordination between central and state agencies has been crucial in tracing operatives hiding in forested areas and difficult terrain across the Northeast.

The NIA’s statement noted:
"The accused has been identified as Lalrosang Hmar alias Rosang, resident of Moinathol village in Dilkhosh Grant, Cachar district. He is being questioned for his involvement in the 2024 Jiribam killings. Further investigations are underway."

With this arrest, two key suspects are now in the agency’s custody. Several more persons of interest are reportedly under surveillance or being interrogated as the agency expands its probe into the terror conspiracy behind the Jiribam killings.

Rising concern over Northeast security

The resurgence of targeted killings and ethnic clashes in Jiribam, Imphal, Churachandpur, and nearby areas has sparked serious concerns among both security agencies and civil society groups. Manipur has witnessed repeated cycles of violence involving armed militias, ethnic insurgents, and politically motivated groups.

The fragile ethnic balance between Meitei, Kuki-Zo, and Naga communities remains under strain. Multiple rounds of violence over land, tribal rights, and political representation have led to displacement of thousands, closure of schools, and a massive humanitarian crisis.

The Central Government has deployed additional paramilitary forces to vulnerable districts and has also held several rounds of high-level meetings with state officials and tribal leaders. The NIA’s investigations are expected to play a key role in bringing the perpetrators of terror-linked violence to justice and dismantling organised insurgent operations.

What lies ahead

The arrest of Lalrosang Hmar is a significant step forward in establishing a clearer understanding of the chain of events leading up to the 2024 Jiribam killings. Investigators are expected to focus on:

• Uncovering the full network behind the attack

• Identifying the source of weapons and funding

• Tracking cross-border insurgent movement

• Preventing similar attacks in adjacent regions

If Rosang cooperates with the investigation or if digital evidence retrieved from his possession proves fruitful, more arrests and revelations may follow.

The NIA has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in the border regions. At the same time, community leaders are being engaged in dialogue and peace-building efforts, especially in ethnic flashpoints across Manipur and lower Assam.

Conclusion

The second arrest in the 2024 Jiribam killings case marks another turning point in the National Investigation Agency's determined pursuit of justice for victims of insurgent violence. As more suspects are identified and brought to book, the hope remains that law and order will be restored in the disturbed areas of Northeast India and that a lasting solution to ethnic unrest can finally take root.

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