The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a man in connection with the April 7 IED attack in Manipur’s Bishnupur district that killed two children, with police alleging that the accused was the “finance head” of the proscribed United Kuki National Army (UKNA) and was linked to five other firing incidents. S Palal Thadou was arrested by the NIA on Wednesday in connection with the IED blast at a residential house in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang town. The April 7 explosion killed two minors and injured another person. According to Manipur Police, Thadou had previously been arrested by police in Churachandpur and Bishnupur in connection with separate cases. During questioning and investigation, he allegedly admitted to being the “finance head” of the banned UKNA.
Police said sustained investigation, human intelligence and interrogation, supported by technical inputs from digital forensic experts, helped security agencies uncover alleged plans and operations involving Thadou and other UKNA operatives.Investigators have also linked Thadou to several other incidents. Police alleged that he was involved in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi on December 16, 2025, and a firing incident at Molnom during the intervening night of February 3 and 4, 2026. He was further allegedly involved in a firing incident in the Kaprang area on July 4, shortly before Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s visit to Churachandpur. Police have also linked him to other firing incidents reported on July 4 and March 26 this year. The NIA took over the investigation into the April 7 IED attack and re-registered the case on April 23 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The agency said Thadou’s arrest was aimed at uncovering the larger conspiracy behind the attack and identifying the wider network allegedly involved in the incident. Thadou was produced before the Special NIA Court in Imphal and remanded to 10 days of police custody. The NIA said further investigation is continuing to identify and apprehend other people allegedly involved in the conspiracy and establish the wider network behind the attack.
