The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday (October 13) arrested a 22-year-old man from Maharashtra's Pune, who is suspected to be the 'mastermind' behind the case of two missing Manipuri students who were believed to have been killed, news agency PTI reported citing officials.
According to the report, a CBI special investigation team arrested Paolunmang in Pune on Wednesday and took him to Guwahati to stand trial. The special court ordered him to be held in CBI custody until October 16.
On October 1, the central agency arrested two men, Paominlun Haokip and Smalsawm Haokip, and two women, Lhingneichong Baitekuki and Tinneilhing Henthang.
Two people went missing on July 6: Phijam Hemanjit, 20, and Hijam Linthoingambi, 17. On September 25, photos purportedly showing their bodies surfaced, sparking violent protests, primarily by students.
Based on the complaints of the victims' parents, the two cases related to the missing students were earlier registered with the Imphal Police and Lamphel Police on July 8 and July 19, respectively.
The CBI had taken over investigation into these two cases on August 23. After the photos went viral on September 25, CBI Director Praveen Sood dispatched a special team, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, which reached Manipur on September 27 to monitor and help the probe.
On Thursday, in order to restore normalcy in the state, Manipur CM N Biren Singh's government prohibited the distribution of videos or images depicting violence and property damage, according to PTI.
The action comes after the state government extended the suspension of mobile data internet services for five days until October 16 evening on Wednesday. Following the outbreak of violence in the state on May 3, mobile internet was banned.
According to the government, the distribution of videos or images depicting violence or damaged property will be severely punished, and those responsible will face legal consequences.
"The state government views very seriously and with utmost sensitivity the reported spread of videos and images depicting violent activities, inflicting harm or injury to (any) body or damage to private and public properties through various social media platforms which may aggravate the law and order situation in the state," the Manipur government said in a statement to PTI.
"The state government after thorough examination of the matter has decided to restrain the act of spreading such videos and images as a positive step towards bringing normalcy in the state," the statement said.
The decision was made "to thwart the activities and designs of anti-national and anti-social elements, maintain peace and communal harmony, and prevent loss of life," according to the government.
Last month, mass protests erupted in Imphal Valley after images of the bodies of two missing youths surfaced on social media, and more than 100 students, mostly girls, were injured in a crackdown on protestors by security forces and police.
Since May 3 of this year, Manipur has seen ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki tribes, which erupted after the Meiteis demanded tribe status.