CBI Arrests 6 For Killing Two Manipur Students

The CBI on Sunday arrested six people in connection with the horrific murder case of two students in Manipur in June.

The six include two men and two women, according to a report in NDTV. Also, the authorities have detained two other girls.

"I'm pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today.

As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law. We are committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, for the heinous crime they have committed," Manipur CM Biren Singh said on X.

The four, including the wife of the main accused, were taken "outside the state" by a special flight, Singh said.

Officials of the chief minister's secretariat said two minor girls, aged 11 and 9 years, were detained in connection with the case but they were released later. The two are daughters of the main accused, according to a report in PTI.

"The CBI arrested four people from Henglep area of Churachandpur district for the murder of the two youths. They were outside the state by a special flight," the chief minister told a press conference.

Photos of the bodies of the two students - Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17) - who were missing since July 6, were shared widely on social media on Monday, sparking fresh rounds of protests in the state.

The state government in consultation with the home ministry referred the matter to the CBI which immediately dispatched a team of officials led by the agency's second in command Bhatanagar to probe the crime.

One of the two photos purportedly showed the students with two armed men and the other was of two bodies.

Police had previously said the whereabouts of the two were not known and their mobile phones were found switched off.

The last location of their mobile phones was traced to Lamdan, near the winter flower tourist spot in Churachandpur district.

During the operation leading to their arrest, personnel of the Army, paramilitary forces such as BSF, CRPF and the state police played a major role, the Chief Minister said.