Gauhati HC grants bail to Kuki Inpi spokesperson in NIA case on killing of Manipur commandos

The Gauhati High Court has granted bail to Thangminlen Mate, a spokesperson of the Kuki Inpi in Manipur, in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The case pertains to the killing of two Manipur Police Commandos in the Moreh area of Tengnoupal district in January 2024, amidst the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, a Bench of Justices Michael Zothankhuma and Anjan Moni Kalita noted that the NIA had registered two different FIRs over the same incident in which both police personnel were killed near Moreh Bazar on January 17, 2024. Mr. Mate was arrested in both cases, with the arrest memo accusing him of “conspiring” and “planning” the attack, even while recording that the role of one Waikhom Rohit, a Meitei person, had been “established” in the incident.

Granting bail, the court observed that the NIA had not mentioned Mr. Rohit’s role in the FIRs. The FIRs mentioned the role of “unknown Kuli militants”. The court said, “It is highly unlikely that the petitioner, a Kuki, would plan the attack for or with Waikhom Rohit, a Meitei.” The court ordered his release on a bail bond of ₹2 lakh with one surety of the like amount, subject to conditions that he report to the NIA when required, and not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.

The case stems from attacks with “bombs and firearms” reported at India Reserve Battalion posts in Moreh Town and Ima Kondong Lairembi on January 17. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Manipur Police Commandos W. Somorjit Meitei and Takhellambam Seileshor Singh were killed near Moreh Bazar. Separate FIRs were registered for the two deaths.

The NIA first arrested Mr. Mate in the FIR concerning the killing of Mr. Meitei. While a special NIA court in Guwahati granted him bail on June 18, he was re-arrested on June 20 in connection with the second FIR. Bail was denied in that case by a special NIA court, prompting Mr. Mate’s appeal before the High Court, which set aside the Special Court’s order.

The High Court noted that a “careful perusal” of both FIRs showed the deaths had occurred in the same exchange of fire at Moreh Bazar around 5:30 p.m. “When the involvement of W. Rohit is said to be established in the killing of the two Manipur Police Commandos in Moreh on 17.01.2024, it is not understood as to how the petitioner, who is of the rival community, could be said to be involved in the killing of any one of the above two police personnel,” the court said.

It further added, “There is no reasonable ground for believing that the accusation made against the petitioner [Mr. Mate] is prima facie true, as it is not the case of the NIA that the Kuki and Meitei elements had together attacked the IRB post or the Moreh Bazar on 17.01.2024.”