Manipur Gang-Rape Victim Succumbs to Trauma After Two-Year Struggle
A 20-year-old Kuki-Zo woman from Manipur has died on January 10, 2024. She endured severe trauma and injuries for over two years following an alleged brutal gang-rape during the initial days of Manipur's ethnic clashes in May 2023. Her illness worsened due to the unhealed physical and psychological wounds she carried.
Tribal Groups Hold Candlelight Vigil, Demand Accountability
Kuki-Zo organizations, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), stated that she was denied justice while alive. They held a candlelight vigil on Saturday to demand accountability for her suffering. The groups emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and action against the perpetrators.
Details of the Alleged Incident and FIR
Two months after the alleged incident, the victim managed to flee to Kangpokpi district amid the breakdown of law and order in Manipur. She lodged an FIR at Kangpokpi police station on July 21, 2023. The case was later transferred to Porompat police station in Imphal East, where the alleged crime occurred.
In her FIR, she wrote that she was abducted on May 15, 2023, from near an ATM booth in New Checkon, Imphal. She alleged that a group of women from Meira Paibis handed her over to four armed men from the Arambai Tenggol organization. The men took her to a hilltop, where three of them raped her in turn.
After the assault, they threw her off a creek. She managed to escape when an autorickshaw driver carrying vegetables rescued her. The next day, she fled Imphal and sought treatment at Kangpokpi hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, doctors referred her to Kohima for further medical care.
Ongoing Impact and Calls for Justice
The victim's death highlights the long-term consequences of violence during ethnic conflicts. Her case underscores the challenges faced by survivors in accessing justice and proper healthcare in turbulent regions. Tribal leaders continue to push for a resolution, stressing that such incidents must not go unpunished to prevent future atrocities.
Community members and activists are now calling for stronger legal measures and support systems for victims of sexual violence in conflict zones. They urge authorities to expedite the investigation and ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law.
