Ukhrul, June 23: Manipur Police siad it arrested the principal accused in the brutal murder of Md Chesam Abdul Kadir, a 29‑year‑old differently‑abled resident of Paobitek Mayai Leikai. The suspect, identified as Longjam Khaba Singh @ Boi (35), hails from Yumnam Huidrom Thiyam Leishangkhong and is a commander of the Arambai Tenggol group. Singh was apprehended on Sunday at Mongsangei Makha Leikai (Arubam Leikai), close to Puthiba Laibung Complex in Imphal West.
With this arrest, a total of ten individuals, seven Arambai Tenggol members and three civilians, have now been detained in connection to the case.
Abdul Kadir was abducted and forcibly disappeared on the evening of June 10. His body was recovered on June 17 morning near the Nambul River between Samurou and Thounaojam in Imphal West district prompting widespread outrage and civil unrest, including protests in Paobitek that required police intervention.
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The All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation (AMMSO) on June 20 issued a scathing statement, describing the incident as “terrorism” and a “grave crime against humanity.” The students’ body condemned the abduction and murder of a vulnerable, differently-abled individual, explicitly naming a Meira Paibi leader and the Arambai Tenggol Quick Response Team as responsible.
AMMSO also pointed out the broader pattern of violence targeting the Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) community. It criticized societal indifference. The students’ group raised two key concerns:
Communal Profiling: Abdul Kadir, who belonged to the Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) community, was allegedly labeled a “suspected thief,” a claim AMMSO condemned as part of a dangerous and recurring stereotype linking Pangals to theft.
Disability and Humanity: “What kind of society are we becoming when even the differently-abled are not spared?”
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It may be noted that the AMMSO following the incident had warned of a potential mass uprising if justice is not served, urging the government to either act swiftly or face the consequences of public outrage.