Ukhrul, Jan 6: In a viral video circulating on social media, the Arambai Tenggol has been accused of allegedly torturing and coercing a Muslim boy to consume pork against his religious beliefs.
The incident reportedly took place on January 4. The alleged victim, 18-year-old Tampakmayum Aktar, son of Tampakmayum Kamal Hassan from Kwakta Ward No. 2, was allegedly summoned by the Arambai Tenggol Heingang Unit on accusations of molesting a colleague.
Narrating his ordeal, the victim alleged that he was tied up, assaulted, and forced to eat pork against his religious beliefs by the group. He also allegedly said that the AT group accused the Muslim community of plotting to erase the Meitei community by selling drugs and making them consume them. Further, he accused Korounganba Khuman, the leader of the Arambai Tenggol, of piercing his hands with nails.
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Talking about the alleged reasons that led to the incident, he stated that he was summoned by the group due to a misunderstanding involving his colleague Jenita, a Meitei girl working at the Kafye Café in Keishampat, Imphal. He explained that he, Jenita, and another friend worked at the same café and often engaged in casual conversations. However, when he jokingly told his other friend over the phone that he loved Jenita, she reportedly misunderstood his words and informed her brothers and the AT group, which subsequently summoned him.
When he arrived at the group’s Heingang unit, he was questioned about the prohibition of relationships between Meiteis and Muslims and whether he had an affair with Jenita. Despite reportedly denying any relationship with her, his denial was ignored, and he was physically assaulted.
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On the other hand, the girl Jenita stated that on that fateful day, Aktar had proposed to her which she rejected. She claimed that upon her rejection, he misbehaved with her. She further informed that she had lodged an FIR at Lamphel police station.
Reacting to the accusations, the leader of Arambai Tenggol has flatly denied the allegations. He clarified from his social media handle that he did not force feed pork as Aktar has portrayed him. “I am not an unreasonable person who would post a video of someone being forced to eat pork. Please stop creating unnecessary tension. The individual who claimed to have been molested was handed over to the police for his own safety,” Korounganba wrote.
He also informed that a meeting involving the titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba and Muslim civil organizations had been scheduled at the former’s residence and appealed to all to avoid creating further tensions.
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Several Muslim organizations including Anjuman Isla E Musra, Kwakta Jamiat Ulma Bishnupur District, All Kwakta Coordinating Committee, All Meitei Pangal Youth Association, All Kwakta Youth Voluntary Organisation have demanded an explanation from the Arambai Tenggol Heingang Unit and its leader, Korounganba, by January 7, 2025. The civil and religious bodies condemned the assault as an attack on communal harmony and human rights, warning of further actions if their demands are not met.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation has also strongly condemned the incident. Terming the incident a deliberate attempt to disrupt the unity and peace between the two communities, the organization has posed several questions.
1. Is Arambai Tengol authorized to act as a law-enforcing agency? Why did this group take matters into their own hands, apprehending and beating the boy before handing him over to the police?
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2. Why was the boy released despite allegations of molestation? Why haven’t the police established any evidence or filed charges under relevant IPC sections to ensure a fair investigation?
3. What evidence supports the forced statement in the circulated video? The claim that imams of mosques advised Pangals to marry Meitei girls to erase the Meitel community is baseless and directly contradicts Islamic principles. What is the interest in the circulation of such inflammatory content?
4. Why was the boy forced to consume pork? Was this act an attempt to erase his Islamic identity or humiliate his faith?
5. Why is the Chief Minister, who heads the Home Department, remaining silent? Why hasn’t the government not taken action against those who incite hatred and perpetuate violence between the communities?
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AMMSO unequivocally stated that if the boy was found guilty of molestation, he should be punished according to the law. However, targeting Islam and its principles, along with defaming the Imams of mosques, is unacceptable.
The organization also called upon the government to ban such vigilante actions by armed groups and ensure that the rule of law prevails. It warned that failure to address these issues would provoke anger and unrest among the communities and demanded clarification by January 7, 2025. “We, as a peaceful and unarmed community, will turn to maleficent prayer with the guidance of our Islamic scholars to seek divine intervention,” it said.
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