New Delhi, August 24 (PTI): New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested Manipur MLA Yamthung Haokip in connection with the missing arms case, news agency ANIreported. The case pertains to theft of 56 Pistols and 58 Magazines from the DG Pool Armoury located within the premises of 2nd Manipur Rifles Battalion, Imphal. Earlier in the day, the NIA had recovered nine 9 mm pistols from the residence of United Kuki Liberation Front’s (UKLF) chief and Saikul constituency MLA Yamthung Haokip besides other articles such as a suitcase of gold biscuits, each weighing one kilogram. These weapons went missing between 2016 and early 2017. “Yamthong Haokip was arrested today (August 24, 2018) for his involvement in procuring police pistols illegally and distributing them to different terrorist groups to wage war against the State,” the NIA said in the statement. “Owing to his recent illness, the NIA judge ordered jail authorities to admit him in a government hospital,” it added. Haokip was produced before a special court in Imphal. He has been remanded to judicial custody, the probe agency said. The NIA has recovered 14 weapons till date in the case and the investigation is continuing. In April 2018, the Manipur government suspended four high-ranking police officials, including an IPS officer, in connection with the missing arms case.
