The NIA is investigating alleged links between the bank heist and cadres of the NSCN (IM). The agency has appealed to the public to help trace the suspects and assured informants that their identities will remain confidential.
BY PC Bureau
October 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for information leading to the arrest of two accused wanted in connection with the robbery of ₹18.85 crore from a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Ukhrul district of Manipur in November 2023.
The NIA’s Imphal branch issued the announcement on Tuesday, October 13, appealing to the public to share information that could help investigators trace and apprehend the suspects. The two are believed to be cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN (IM), according to the agency’s announcement. The NIA has assured informants that their identities will be kept confidential.
The robbery took place on November 30, 2023, at the bank’s branch in the Viewland area of Ukhrul. Armed men reportedly stormed the premises and escaped with ₹18.85 crore, making it one of the major bank robberies reported in the Northeast.
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The case was brought under the NIA’s investigation after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs received information suggesting that armed cadres associated with the eastern flank of NSCN (IM) were responsible for the heist. Investigators have alleged that those involved subsequently fled to Myanmar with the stolen money.
The agency’s intervention came nearly three years after the robbery, highlighting the continuing challenge of investigating major crimes in Manipur’s hill districts, where cross-border movement and the presence of armed groups can complicate efforts to locate suspects.
The announcement of the reward is intended to generate fresh leads and encourage people with relevant information to come forward. The NIA has said that information can be provided to its Imphal branch or to the Superintendent of Police, NIA, at Officers’ Colony, Lamphel, Imphal West.
The agency has provided the following contact numbers for information: 0385-2415135 and 690-936-6178. Informants may also approach the NIA office directly, and their identities will be kept secret, according to the announcement.
The suspects’ alleged links to NSCN (IM) remain part of the investigation, and the reward announcement does not by itself establish their guilt. The agency’s immediate objective is to secure information that will help locate and arrest the accused and advance the investigation into the robbery
