Arambai Tengol allegedly forces Muslim man to eat Pork, accuses Muslims of plotting to erase Meitei Community

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Kwakta have condemned an incident in which Akhtar, a chef at Kafyh Café in Keishampat, Imphal, was allegedly tortured by members of the Arambai Tengol Heingang Unit. The group reportedly accused the Muslim community of plotting to erase the Meitei community and forcibly made Akhtar consume pork against his religious beliefs.

According to Akhtar's statement, the ordeal began over a misunderstanding with his colleague, Jenita. A joking comment during a phone call was misconstrued, leading to a complaint to the Arambai Tengol. Summoned to their unit, Akhtar (18-year-old) was tied up, brutally beaten, and pierced with nails. He was then forced to eat pork and made to falsely confess that Muslims were instructed by their religious leaders to marry Meitei women to spread Islam.

Anjuman Isla E Musra, Kwakta Jamiat Ulma Bishnupur District, All Kwakta Coordinating Committee, All Meitei Pangal Youth Association, and All Kwakta Youth Voluntary Organisation have demanded an explanation from the Arambai Tengol Heingang Unit and its leader, Korounganba, by January 7, 2025. The organizations condemned the assault as an attack on communal harmony and human rights, warning of further actions if their demands are not met.

The victim said in a video that surfaced on social media, “I am from Kwakta and currently working as a chef in Kafyh café located in Keishampat, Imphal. There are three of us working in the café, and among us, there is a female waiter named Jenita. We often engage in light talks and fun chit-chats”.

One day, during a phone call with one of my work colleagues, I jokingly told him that I love Jenita and want her. However, she took my words seriously and got angry. She then complained to her brothers and reported the matter to the Arambai group.

Jenita gave the contact number of our café owner to the Arambai group, who subsequently called him. Our café owner then called me and informed me that I had been summoned by the Arambai group from their Heingang Unit and was instructed to meet them at 5:00 PM.

Since I had not done anything wrong, I questioned my café owner why I should go. He suggested that I go and talk to them. Later, he told me to take the other two colleagues with me. However, he later mentioned that he couldn’t accompany us because of an exam and asked me to inform the Arambai group about this.

Eventually, Jenita and I went to the meeting place. When we arrived, they questioned me about the prohibited relationships between Pangal boys and Meitei girls. I explained that I was not in a relationship with Jenita, but they refused to believe me.

They tied my hands and feet and brutally beat me black and blue. Korounganba, the leader of the Arambai group, pierced my hands with nails and forcibly made me say, ‘At the Friday congregation, our Imam and Maroubis told us to marry Meitei girls to spread Islam.’ This statement was not true but was forcefully dictated by Korounganba and later uploaded on social media.

“They tied me up and forcefully made me eat pork. I silently managed to take out a piece of the pork and carried it in my pocket, but they still made me eat three to four pieces. They accused Muslims of trying to erase the Meitei community by selling drugs and making them consume it.”

According to the press statement (dated: 5 Jan 2025) from the All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation (AMMSO), the groups have expressed their outrage at the incident and have called for swift and decisive action against those responsible for this attack on Akhtar.

Share: