Prime suspect of two missing Manipur students arrested: CBI

The suspect was tracked down in Pune with the help of the CBI's anti-corruption unit

In a big breakthrough in the two Manipur students missing and found dead case, the special investigation team (SIT) of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigating the case said that it has arrested a 22-year old Manipur resident, said to be the prime suspect in the case, from Koregaon in Pune.

He was tracked down in Pune with the help of CBI’s anti-corruption unit.

He has been brought to Guwahati, where a special court granted the CBI custody of the young man until October 16.

The two missing students, Phijam Hemanjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17) were last seen in CCTV footage riding a motorbike on July 6.

Initially, the disappearance of these students received little attention until unsettling pictures, purportedly showing their lifeless bodies, emerged on September 25. The video went viral soon after the Manipur government lifted the ban on internet on September 23.

The video triggered outrage in Manipur, leading to violent student protests and prompting the government to request the CBI to take over the investigation into the case. CBI has already made several arrests in connection with the case.

Earlier, speaking to media, Kuldeip Singh, Manipur’s security advisor, said that since the bodies of the two missing students have not been found, the case is officially considered a “missing persons” case. He explained that confirming their deaths would necessitate the recovery of a significant portion of their bodies.

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