Churachandpur – In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through Manipur and attracted global attention, a tribal man was brutally murdered in Churachandpur district on July 2. The gruesome incident, where the victim's head was severed and displayed on a village fence, has ignited outrage and intensified ethnic tensions in the region.
The incident has sparked further controversy due to alleged involvement of Moerembam Romesh Mangang, a BJP worker. Disturbing photos have circulated on social media, showing him holding a knife and David's severed head. Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) confirmed the authenticity of the images and claimed that Mangang is on the run.
During a ground report conducted in Manipur, The Mooknayak interviewed an eyewitness, Lalmoon Poi, who provided chilling details of the incident. The Mooknayk representative also gathered information from villagers and tribal organizations, pinpointing Arambai Tengol and Maitai Lipun as alleged perpetrators. Disturbing images related to the incident have gone viral on social media, depicting a BJP worker holding the victim's head while brandishing a weapon. The villagers allege that Arambai Tengol and Maitai Lipun are patronised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Not only this, the Mooknayak representative also spoke to an official of Churachandpur, who has also blamed Arambai Tengol for spreading anarchy. However, an FIR was lodged at Churachandpur police station against unidentified persons on charges of murder and possession of illegal arms. The case was later transferred to Kumbhi police station in Bishnupur. Bishnupur police told The Mooknayak that an investigation is underway, but no arrests have been made so far.
The victim, David Hammer, resided in Langja village situated in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. The village's jurisdiction falls under the Kumbhi police station area, which is located in the Bishnupur district. The tragic incident occurred on July 2. The Mooknayak's representative engaged with Lalmoon Poi, an eyewitness to the incident, who recounted the horrifying event in trembling words.
Lalmoon Poi recalled that the incident unfolded around four o'clock in the morning of July 2. Tensions had escalated since the occurrence involving Kuki women in Churachandpur on May 2, leading to clashes between the Maitai and Kuki communities across the state. Nighttime attacks were escalating in the villages, prompting the Kuki community, including David and Lalmoon Poi, to adopt a system of guarding their village on rotating shifts.
On the morning of July 1, David and Lalmoon Poi initiated their vigil over the village. As their shift was due to end at 4 am on July 2, they returned from the village's border. However, unsettling information reached them; news circulated that a sizable group of individuals dressed in police and army uniforms was approaching the village. The sources of this information advised Lalmoon Poi to flee the village. He promptly relayed this alarming message to David, and they swiftly began packing their belongings to escape.
Despite their efforts to evade capture, the assailants intercepted David. Lalmoon Poi, who was riding a scooty, encountered an obstacle that caused him to fall while attempting to escape. Concealing himself in a nearby bush, he watched helplessly as the assailants apprehended David and initiated a gruesome attack on him. During this ordeal, the perpetrators even asked David about Lalmoon Poi's whereabouts.
Recounting the horrifying details to The Mooknayak, Lalmoon Poi stated, "They initially severed one of David's hands and callously tossed it aside after subjecting him to brutal beatings with a blunt weapon. Amidst their actions, one of them cruelly addressed David, taunting him with the words, 'If you want your hand, go pick it up and bring it.' Subsequently, they proceeded to amputate his other hand. Witnessing this gruesome spectacle left me in a state of shock, rendering me voiceless. Following these acts, they dismembered David's body into several pieces and placed his severed neck on the wooden fence outside his house. This gruesome display aimed to identify the location as David's residence. Subsequently, they ransacked his home and set it ablaze. Fearing for their lives, the village's inhabitants fled to the forest for safety. The assailants proceeded to set fire to the entire village, reducing everyone's homes to ashes. Tragically, David's remains were also subjected to severe burning."
Within this context, David's uncle, Buonkhawalian, informed The Mooknayak that on the day of the murder, David and other volunteers had remained in the village to safeguard against miscreants and thieves. Unfortunately, they lacked any form of security equipment.
As David was returning from his duty of protecting the village as a volunteer, a group of individuals armed with heavy weaponry stormed the village, as described by David's uncle, Buonkhawlin, during his conversation with The Mooknayak. Buonkhawlin recounted the incident as conveyed by his friend. The assailants captured David and a few other volunteers and questioned their tribal affiliations. In response, David defiantly stated, 'I am one of us, do whatever you want.' David's response reflected his preparedness to face whatever consequences lay ahead.
According to David's uncle's account, shortly thereafter, the mob bound David's neck with a rope and dragged him to a field near a playground. There, they subjected him to further torment, including the removal of his right eye and the amputation of his right hand. Amidst this brutality, they cruelly asked, 'Do you desire the other hand?' Subsequently, they repeated their gruesome actions by severing his left hand. Rather than opting for a swift end through gunfire, the assailants chose to inflict prolonged agony, signifying their intent to cause as much pain as possible. This torment culminated with the amputation of his legs and ultimately the decapitation of his head.
Expressing his anguish, Buonkhawlin asserted, "Despite our son's unwavering dedication to his tribe and community, he was subjected to unimaginable inhuman torture."
Tragically, the death of his son has taken a severe toll on the health of David's father, Lalkhumalin, who was previously affected by a stroke and is now disabled.
The Mooknayak spoke to David's uncle Buonkhavlin. "David was a remarkable footballer. He completed his education in Langja village of Churachandpur district. David's father is disabled, and he was the elder of two siblings. David's mother passed away when he was six years old. After completing class 12, David moved to Mumbai to support his family. He worked in a restaurant there. In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, he returned to Langja to care for his disabled father. Since then, he had been staying at home. Due to financial constraints, he had decided to return to Mumbai in April. However, the situation worsened after the May 3 incident, consequently he was brutally murdered."
His friend Lalmoon Poi also attests to David's exceptional football skills. They both played football together, participating in tournaments across various villages in Churachandpur.
After David's murder, the video of his severed head on the fence of his house went viral on social media like wildfire. According to information provided by a Kuki community organization, "David's brain was found burnt to ashes. The red strip of cloth that covered his head was also found nearby. The forensic team recovered David's bones from the ashes of his house."
Following David's murder, numerous pictures of BJP worker Moerembam Romesh Mangang have become viral on social media. In one picture, he is seen holding a knife in his hand, while in another, David's head is held in his hand. It is being alleged that Moerembam Romesh Mangang is the one responsible for David's killing. Several other pictures, resembling his attire and appearance, have also circulated widely on social media. Additionally, there are claims that he serves as the PRO of the BJP MLA. The Mooknayak engaged with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) regarding this matter, and they confirmed the authenticity of these claims. The forum stated that all these images were posted on the accused's Facebook account, which has since been deactivated. They have reported the situation to the authorities. The accused has been evading capture, as the ITLF mentioned, and his phone number is also switched off.
David's uncle, Bonkhawlin, lodged a complaint at Churachandpur police station on July 2. The complaint details that David's body parts were "cut into pieces and burned, and his head was hung on a bamboo fence." An FIR was filed at Churachandpur police station against unidentified individuals on charges of murder and possession of unauthorized weapons. Subsequently, the case was transferred to Kumbhi police station in Bishnupur. Bishnupur police informed The Mooknayak that an ongoing investigation is in progress, but no arrests have been made thus far.
"It's not only about David. Tribal communities across Manipur are experiencing oppression. Nearly 200 people have lost their lives, and almost 60,000 have been displaced due to ethnic violence in Manipur.
The death statistics- According to the data provided by the ITLF, 126 members of the Kuki community have been killed in Manipur up to this point. Two women were gang-raped and murdered in Imphal city on May 5. On May 3, two women were paraded naked in Kangkopki, after which they were gang-raped. Thus far, approximately 113 houses and shops belonging to the Kuki community have been set ablaze.
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