Joint sit-in demands justice for Md Arish
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 18 2025:
Residents of Kiyamgei and Bashikhong, comprising both Meetei and Meitei Pangal communities, staged a joint sit-in protest on Saturday at the Bashikhong-Kongba Irong Thong (bridge) demanding justice for Md Arish (25), son of Md Ajijur Rahman from Kiyamgei Muslim Awang Leikai under Irilbung police station.
The protest condemned the brutal assault on Arish and called for the culprits to be booked without delay.
Speaking to the media at the protest site, United Meitei Pangal Committee executive member Md Ahamad Raja informed that Md Arish was severely assaulted by unknown assailants on Friday night.
The attackers tied his hands and legs before leaving him near Kiyamgei Muslim burial ground, assuming he was dead.
He said that the public of the area strongly condemned the incident, highlighting that Arish is an innocent man running a grocery store near his home to make a living.
Raja informed that on Friday evening, around 6 pm, Arish went out, leaving his younger sister in charge of the shop.
When he failed to return, his sister tried calling him, but his phone remained switched off.
He was later found unconscious near the local burial ground at around 8 pm.
He also indicated that the incident could be linked to a recent robbery case involving his family.
On January 2, unidentified individuals delivered a demand letter to his uncle, and on January 9, five armed men entered his home, forcibly took Rs 16.25 lakh at gunpoint, and threatened to bomb his uncle's house if the incident was disclosed.
Raja then urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and bring the culprits to justice, while also appealing to the public not to view the incident through a communal lens, since spreading unverified comments on social media could escalate tensions.
Adding to the community's concern, Raja expressed shock at the police searching for two local youths in connection with the case, asserting that the community believes the two youths are innocent and not involved in the incident.