Tense situation in Kwakta after abduction of community leader

A tense situation prevailed in Kwakta, Bishnupur District, after Moulana Abdul Guffur Sangomsumbam, 39, a local community leader and son of the late Md. Abdus Salam, was abducted by an unidentified armed group from Kwakta Municipal Council Ward No. 6 on Monday evening. He was reportedly released the following morning with his hands tied and eyes blindfolded.
According to Moulana Sahidur Rahaman Qasmi, Vice President of Anjuman, the incident occurred around 6 p.m. on October 20, when armed men from the Tronglaobi area intercepted Moulana Abdul Guffur and forcibly took him away. He was later released at approximately 5:30 a.m. near the Thongrambi Hayel Lai Manak area in Imphal West District.
In response, the All Manipur Progressive Youth Association (AMPYA), All Kangleipak Youth Volunteers’ Organization (AKYVO), Anjuman, and Jamiatul Ulama Kwakta Bishnupur District convened an emergency meeting at the Jamiatul Ulama office to deliberate on the incident and its implications.
Speaking at the meeting, Moulana Sahidur Rahaman Qasmi said the abduction of civilians despite extensive deployment of central and state security forces in the area is a matter of grave concern. He added that the incident has created fear and uncertainty among local residents, urging both civil and security authorities to identify the perpetrators and take immediate action.
Following the abduction, public apprehension grew across Kwakta, prompting calls for accountability. During the investigation, security forces reportedly seized Abdul Guffur’s car — an A-Star bearing registration number MN06LX7736 — along with his mobile phone (Redmi 13) and some cash for examination.
Local civil bodies strongly condemned the act, warning that such incidents could disrupt peace and harmony in the already sensitive region. They appealed to all communities to maintain unity and avoid escalation. Security personnel assured that the matter was being treated with utmost seriousness, and they would conduct a thorough investigation in close coordination with civil society organizations to restore normalcy. Civil society members also indicated that democratic forms of protest could be initiated if the culprits are not identified promptly.
Prominent attendees at the emergency meeting included Moulana Haffizuddin, President of AMPYA; Sadam, Working President of AMPYA; Chesam Hanif, General Secretary of AKYVO; Moulana Abul Kalam, President of Anjuman; and Moulana Islauddin Quasmi, President of Jamiatul Ulama Arshadi, Kwakta.