Muslim Bodies condemn the murder as part of a pattern of violence against the Pangal community, calling for a CBI or NIA-led investigation.
BY PC Bureau
June 17, 2025 – The brutal killing of Chesam Abdul Kadir, alias Achouba, a 29-year-old differently-abled man from Paobitek Mayai Leikai, Imphal West, has sparked widespread condemnation and protests across Manipur. The discovery of Kadir’s body, buried near a riverbank at Shamurou Naorem Nambulmapal under Wangoi Police Station, has drawn sharp reactions from civil society, with six members of the Meitei socio-cultural outfit Arambai Tenggol among nine suspects arrested in connection with his alleged abduction and murder. The incident, reported on June 17, 2025, has intensified demands for justice and exposed underlying ethnic tensions in the state.
The killing triggered violent protests in Imphal West, with locals led by a Joint Action Committee (JAC) clashing with police near Wangoi Police Station. Protesters, demanding swift justice, blocked roads, burned tires, and pelted stones, prompting police to deploy tear gas. Social media posts reflect public fury, with some alleging Arambai Tenggol operates with impunity, though such claims remain unverified.
The Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students (DAMMS) issued a scathing statement on June 17, condemning the killing as a “grave violation of human dignity.” Describing the act as an attack on both Kadir and the values of humanity, DAMMS alleged that Arambai Tenggol members targeted the mentally challenged Meitei Pangal (Muslim) community member over unverified suspicions of theft. “This is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of violence fueled by systemic prejudice against the Pangal community,” said DAMMS President Yumkhaibam Suntiyas. The group criticized media and civil society for failing to counter harmful stereotypes, accusing them of reinforcing stigma against the community.
DAMMS demanded that the investigation be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure impartiality, citing potential local influences. Invoking Gandhian and Aristotelian principles, Suntiyas urged Manipur’s communities to unite for justice and harmony, appealing for calm and restraint against inflammatory rhetoric on social media.
The Manipur Meitei Pangal Welfare Organisation (MMWO) echoed the outrage, with Secretary General Firoz Khan labeling the killing a “heartless crime.” Khan called for the harshest punishment for the perpetrators and urged authorities to address the rising incidents of violence in the state.
Police Version and Investigation
Manipur Police exhumed Kadir’s body on June 17, 2025, in the presence of an executive magistrate, forensic team, and family members, confirming his death. Kadir, last seen on June 10 at Yumnam Huidrom Makha Leikai near Mayai Lambi College Gate, was reportedly abducted over suspicions of an attempted theft. Police arrested nine suspects, including six Arambai Tenggol members: Longjam Henson alias Naocha Meitei (24), Thounaojam Ashok Singh (20), Huidrom Shyamsunder Singh (30), Huidrom Somokanta Singh, Huidrom Dipak Singh, and Thingujam Ranjit Singh. Three others—Heikrujam Prafulo Singh (35), Heikrujam Premchand alias Puremba (28), and Sapam Dayani Devi (42)—were also detained. Five vehicles, including three Gypsies, one DI Pick-up, and one Activa, were seized as evidence.
In the follow up of missing case of Chesam Abdul Kadir of Paobitek Mayai Leikai, Imphal West, during further investigation of the case revealed the death of the missing person and buried somewhere. Accordingly, the dead body was exhumed today in presence of executive magistrate,…
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 17, 2025
According to police, some suspects confessed that Kadir died during “questioning” by Arambai Tenggol members, though the cause of death awaits forensic analysis. A criminal case has been registered at Wangoi Police Station, and the suspects are in custody until June 23 or 28, 2025. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all culprits are brought to justice,” a police spokesperson said, urging the public to remain calm and avoid rumors.
Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei socio-cultural outfit, has been increasingly linked to vigilante activities in Manipur amid ethnic tensions between Meiteis and Kukis since May 2023. The group’s alleged involvement in Kadir’s abduction and killing has drawn sharp criticism, with civil society groups accusing it of operating as a private militia. The arrests mark a significant development, but questions linger about the outfit’s influence and accountability in the state’s volatile landscape.
Kadir’s killing comes against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur, which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands since May 2023. The targeting of a differently-abled Pangal individual has heightened concerns about prejudice and vigilante justice, prompting calls for systemic reforms. Authorities face mounting pressure to deliver transparent justice to restore public trust and prevent further unrest.
