Ukhrul, June 20: The All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation (AMMSO) has strongly condemned the abduction and brutal murder of Chesam Abdul Kadir, a differently-abled man from Paobitek in Imphal West, describing the act as “terrorism” and a “grave crime against humanity.”
In a press statement released on Wednesday, AMMSO alleged that Abdul Kadir was abducted, forcibly disappeared, and later found dead along the riverbank at Samurou Naorem. The organization held members of the Arambai Tenggol’s Quick Response Team and a Meira Paibi leader responsible for the killing. AMMSO decried the incident as “inhuman” and warned that such atrocities represent a systemic breakdown of law and order in Manipur.
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The statement stressed that targeting one of the most vulnerable and marginalised, an individual living with a disability, was not only a moral failure but a sign of a deepening social crisis. “These actions serve only to sow further chaos and division,” AMMSO said.
The group raised two key concerns:
- Disability and Humanity: “What kind of society are we becoming when even the differently-abled are not spared?”
- 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.
AMMSO cited a pattern of violence against Pangals in recent times, listing several incidents, including the beating death of a driver in Kshetrigao, the torture of a minor boy in Kwakta, and the wrongful implication of a minor girl in Jiribam based on communal bias. “This is not an isolated incident,” the statement noted.
Calling the murder an example of communal profiling and character assassination, the organization declared: “These are the real ‘Huranba’ (thieves), those who steal lives, peace, and resources meant for the poor.”
AMMSO further questioned the silence of mainstream civil society organizations in Manipur, demanding to know why they had not spoken out against such brutality. The group, however, expressed appreciation for CSOs, student unions, and individuals who had shown solidarity and demanded justice for Abdul Kadir.
The students’ body issued a direct appeal to the Government of Manipur, demanding the immediate arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Longjam Khaba, named as the main accused. “Is his non-arrest a deliberate act? Is justice in Manipur selective?” the group asked.
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AMMSO 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. It also called on all communities to refrain from sharing unverified content online that could incite further tension.
“We stand united against communal forces,” the statement concluded. “We demand an end to violence, impunity, and discrimination against the marginalised.”
The statement was signed by AMMSO president Imtiyas A. and reiterated the organization’s demand for:
Justice for Manipur
Justice for Chesam Abdul Kadir
Justice for Differently-Abled Persons
Justice for the Pangal Community