Missing pistols case: Exmanipur minister’s house searched by NIA

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency searched the premises of former Manipur minister and sitting member of the state assembly in connection with its probe into missing pistols from the state armoury.

Ngamthang Haokip, whose house was searched in the Manipur capital Imphal, represents Saitu assembly constituency in the state assembly and was also a minister in the earlier Congress government led by Okram Ibobi Singh. But now he has shifted allegiance to the BJP which is in power in the state. Earlier this week, the agency had searched premises of another MLA Yamthong Haokip in connection with the case. The agency suspects that the missing arm and ammunition from the state armoury was actually stolen and later made its way to the Manipuri insurgent groups.

“We have searched premises of Ngamthang Haokip as it is suspected that he too might have received pistols that were stolen from the state armoury. We have recovered cash and letter pads of a Manipuri insurgent group from his premises. The MLA is not in town and we have been told that he is Bengaluru for some treatment,” said a senior NIA official requesting anonymity.

During the search at Yamthong Haokip’s premises ,one of the pistols missing from the state armoury was recovered. Yamthong Haokip too won on Congress ticket but now, he “partially supports” the BJP government led by N Biren Singh.

The agency was entrusted with probe into disappearance of 56 pistols and 58 magazines from the weapon store located within the premises of 2nd Manipur Rifles Battalion. The weapons and ammunition went missing between September, 2016 and early 2017.

“We are yet to confront the Saikul MLA with the recovery made from his premises as he too has got himself admitted in a hospital in the national capital,” said the NIA official. Both Ngamthang and Yamthang could not be reached for comments.