National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the grenade attack outside Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla’s official bungalow in Imphal.
This incident occurred in January 2021 and after an initial investigation, it was revealed that the attack was carried at the behest of Myanmar-based commanders of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the probe to the NIA last week after which the agency has registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), explosive substances act as well as attempt to murder.
A Chinese-made grenade was lobbed at security personnel deployed at Raj Bhavan on January 19 at around 4.30 pm by two bike-borne suspects.
Luckily, no one was injured in the incident. Manipur police on January 25, 2021, arrested two persons in relation to the case. The alleged men were identified as Lisham Ibosana Meitei and Konsam Manithoi. Both had links with banned outfit UNLF.
The central intelligence agencies believe that the attack was planned in Myanmar after which the insurgent cadres were activated in Imphal.
NIA officials familiar with the case said they will take custody of the three arrested UNLF members and ask them about those who gave them directions for the attack.
Even as the Indian government is holding peace talks with most of the insurgent groups from the north-east, several commanders of outfits like UNLF have been hiding in Myanmar. UNLF chairperson Rajkumar Meghen was released from Guwahati Central Jail in November 2019 after serving a decade-long sentence.
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