Hafizhusain Tajuddin Mulla was sentenced to death last February along with 37 others. The convicts’ appeal and confirmation of their death sentence remain pending before the Gujarat High Court.
Lianlemsiam Phaipi, an advocate at Manipur High Court and a Kuki activist, said anti-tribal narratives had begun circulating in Manipur as early as last year, adding that Kukis were portrayed as secessionists and illegal immigrants.
The ED officials said Bhadra was arrested as he was not cooperating with the investigators and dodged their questions. The agency claimed to have found his links with three companies and suspected that crores of rupees were being laundered through these entities.