The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Otkhothang Baite, also known as Othang Baite, a key suspect in the 2023 murder of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Manipur. Baite, a resident of Moreh in Tengnoupal district, allegedly played a role in the planned attack by suspected Kuki militants. The incident, which occurred during heightened ethnic tensions, involved an ambush on a district police team at a playground on October 31, 2023.
The attack resulted in the fatal shooting of Moreh SDPO Chingtham Ananda Kumar Singh, who succumbed to his injuries after sustaining a bullet wound to his stomach. Initially investigated by local authorities, the case was later taken over by the NIA in March 2024. The NIA’s probe revealed that the attack was part of a larger scheme to instill fear in Manipur. Recently, Kamginthang Gangte was also arrested by the NIA in connection with the same incident.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh disclosed that a total of nine individuals, including a foreign national from Myanmar, have been detained in connection with the SDPO’s killing. The involvement of an international suspect led to the NIA’s involvement due to external influences in the case. The tragic event sparked widespread protests in Manipur’s valley districts following the officer’s funeral in Imphal.
