Mariyam Usmani, TwoCircles.net
Tampakmayum Akhtar, who belonged to the Kwatka area of Imphal, the capital of ethnic conflict-torn Manipur, found his life turned upside down after a casual conversation at work spiraled into a brutal, life-altering ordeal. The 18-year-old boy, a chef at Kafyah Cafe in the Keshampat area, was used to the daily rhythms of his job, surrounded by co-workers and customers. He had no reason to anticipate the violence that would soon befall him.
It all started with a harmless joke Akhtar made while talking with the younger brother of the cafe’s owner. Jenita, a waitress at the cafe, grew upset and allegedly reported the incident to her brothers, who reached out to Arambai Tenggol (AT), a Meitei armed group with a history of violence toward the Muslim community. What followed was a horrific assault that would forever mark Akhtar’s life.
The accusations against him, which — he says — had no basis in reality, were centered around an alleged “assault” on Jenita. Akhtar is clear in his defense. “We co-workers often chit-chat casually. After I cracked a normal joke with the younger brother of our cafe owner, the waitress became angry and complained to her brothers, who reported this to Arambai Tenggol,” he told TwoCircles.net, alleging, “They hurt my religious faith, forced me to kneel and threatened me. Despite denying all the charges, I was viciously beaten until I could barely breathe.”
The violence was brutal. Akhtar was not only allegedly assaulted. His nails into his feet and hands were allegedly hammered. The attackers did not subjected him to physical torture only. Akhtar was allegedly forced to swallow pork, consumption of which is not permissible in Islamic beliefs.
“They deliberately stuffed his mouth with bacon, which he vomited out of disgust. He somehow managed to keep a piece of pork in plastic wrap as evidence of assault,” said Saddam, a member of the All Meitei Pangal Youth Association (AMPYA) while speaking out about the incident.
The physical abuse was accompanied by psychological torment. Akhtar was allegedly pressured to falsely accuse local imams (prayer leaders) and the Muslim community of engaging in “love jihad” — a conspiracy theory claiming that Muslims are attempting to convert non-Muslim women through deceptive relationships. “They made me say that Pangals (indigenous Muslims) were promoting love jihad and conspiring against the Meitei community,” alleged Akhtar, recalling the horror. “They forced me to record videos to circulate on Meitei-led social media platforms to spread lies about my community.”
The incident left deep scars on Akhtar. For his family, the attack was both a personal tragedy and a reflection of the alleged growing communal tensions in the region. Expressing anguish, his father, Tampakmayum Kamal Hassan, said, “Our locality is still comparatively safe, but we cannot imagine our lives in Imphal because of the fast-growing communalism. We are more shocked at how they are tarnishing the entire community of Pangals.”
Akhtar has lost his job at the cafe. Fearing for his safety, the cafe owner is considering closing the business due to alleged mounting threats.
Despite the horror he had endured, Akhtar’s resolve remained strong. “I want the officials to take action against those who harassed me,” he said, though his words lacked the confidence of someone who felt secure in the justice system’s response.
The assault on Akhtar ignited outrage among civil society organisations and student groups. The All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation (AMMSO) on January 5 issued a statement condemning the violence and demanding accountability. The AMMSO questioned the validity of the accusations against Akhtar and called for an end to the alleged toxic influence of groups like Arambai Tenggol. “Targeting Islam and its principles, along with defaming imams of the mosque, is unacceptable,” read outfit’s statement.
The political response, however, has allegedly been largely inadequate. Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, a member of the Rajya Sabha, issued a resolution in response to the incident, but it failed to offer any concrete protection for Akhtar or his family. According to regional reporter Safiurrehman, “Akhtar’s family and CSOs, including the AMMSO, have rejected the resolution because they were not even invited to the meeting.” This dismissal only deepened the sense of abandonment felt by the Muslim community in Manipur.
AMMSO President Imtiyas Heibokmayum emphasised the broader implications of the attack. “The Manipuri Muslims are quite unique due to their indigenous status, but Tenggols are slowly poisoning young minds against us. It seems like the general Meitei population is getting fed with the ideology of RSS. ‘Love jihad’ accusations are just an aftermath of the pervasive sociopolitical hoopla,” he noted, highlighting the alleged role of radical ideologies in inflaming tensions.
For many in Manipur, the incident has underscored the vulnerability of the Muslim community, who have long been targets of unfounded accusations and scapegoating. Manipur, historically, has been a place of relative harmony between different communities. But now, the indigenous Muslim population finds itself caught in the crossfire of alleged growing communal discord.
Talking about the broader impact, Safiurrehman said, “Not a single Meitei driver has been able to drive through the national highway in Manipur during turmoil. However, Pangals have been driving on this way to ensure the supply of basic essential commodities and food in the valley areas of Manipur. But our contribution is not valued by anyone, anywhere.”
Still unresolved, Akhtar’s case highlights the alleged growing insecurity faced by indigenous Muslims in the region. The alleged threat to the Muslim community will only grow if the silence of the authorities persists.