Outrage in Imphal West After Disabled Man Found Dead; 9 Arrested in Shocking Case

Imphal, June 17: Tension has prevailed in Paobitek Mayai Leikai area in Imphal West district following the recovery of the dead body of a man on Tuesday. Police used tear gas and mock bombs to control the angry protestors, while some protesters threw stones and used slingshots.

29-year-old Chesam Abdul Kadir, who was reportedly a disabled person, had gone missing last week and was found dead on Tuesday morning near the Nambul River between Samurou and Thounaojam in Imphal West district.

According to police, Abdul Kadir went missing on the night of June 10 after he entered the house of a person, a resident of Yumnam Huidrom Makha Leikai, under Wangoi police station. He was reportedly taken away by some miscreants.

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Following a missing person complaint, police began an investigation and arrested nine people, including one woman, by Monday. Police also seized five vehicles, including three Gypsy vehicles, a pickup truck, and a two-wheeler.

A senior police officer said the arrested suspects confessed during interrogation that Abdul Kadir died while they were questioning him about an alleged attempt to steal. They also admitted to burying his body near the riverbank.

The body was later recovered by police with help from the State Forensic Science Laboratory and taken to the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal.

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Yunus Khan, a leader of the Disabled Development Association of Manipur (DDAM), expressed shock and sadness over the incident. He said, “It is heartbreaking that a disabled person was beaten and killed. Abdul had a government-issued disability ID card showing 65% disability. People with disabilities are often treated unfairly and wrongly blamed. We want the authorities and the public to help us get justice for him.”

(Newmai News Network)