Prime Suspect in the Manipur Missing Students Case Arrested in Pune; Investigation Underway

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI has announced the arrest of the key suspect in the case of the missing students in Manipur, marking a major development in the investigation. The alleged perpetrator is a 22-year-old Pune, Maharashtra, resident.

The suspect was captured in Pune with the aid of the CBI’s anti-corruption squad and sent to Guwahati, where a special court authorized the CBI to keep custody of the defendant till October 16.

The two missing students, Phijam Hemanjit, 20, and Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, were last seen on camera video on July 6 riding a motorcycle.

After distressing photos reportedly showing their dead corpses appeared on September 25, the case gained widespread attention. The video went viral when the Manipur administration decided to relax the internet ban on September 23, inciting indignation and violent student demonstrations in the northeastern state.

Since the remains of the missing students have not been discovered, the matter is now formally categorized as a “missing persons” case, according to Manipur’s security adviser Kuldeip Singh.

Singh highlighted that recovering a significant piece of their remains would be necessary in order to certify their deaths.

Singh said that security officers are conducting search operations in several districts, leading to the seizure of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other warlike things. Singh provided an update on the general status of affairs in Manipur. 36 weapons, 314 rounds of ammunition, 17 explosives, and 101 other objects associated with warfare were seized from the area between October 10 and October 13.

Furthermore, strict security measures have been put in place in response to the problem that oil tanker operators are now facing. Drivers of oil tankers traveling on NH 37 are also given a special escort.

Organizations that represent oil tanker drivers and Noney’s CSOs are coordinating their efforts to find the criminals responsible for the truckers’ assault. Up to 370 cars traveling on NH-37 and 250 vehicles traveling on NH-2 are being given the assurance of safe passage while moving through sensitive areas with the help of security convoys.

Singh urged the general people to avoid believing in rumors and fake videos and to verify any information by calling the rumor-free hotline at 9233522822.

Additionally, he encouraged the return of stolen weapons, ammo, and explosives to the police or other security forces and issued a warning that anybody discovered in possession of illicit weapons during search operations would face harsh legal consequences.