Manipur Gang-Rape Survivor Dies While Waiting for Justice
A young woman from Manipur's Kuki-Zo community has died. She was waiting for justice after surviving horrific sexual violence during the ethnic riots of May 2023. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) confirmed her death on January 10.
Two and a Half Years Without Justice
The woman was only 18 years old when the attack happened. An FIR was filed at the Porompat police station in Imphal East. That was two and a half years ago. To this day, the case remains pending. Police have not identified any of her alleged attackers.
The ITLF said her death resulted from unhealed physical and psychological trauma. The organization described her passing as emblematic of the suffering endured by Kuki-Zo women during the violence.
A Harrowing Account of Survival
According to the official FIR, the incident occurred on May 15, 2023. The young woman was near an ATM booth in Imphal's New Checkon area. Ethnic clashes were raging at the time.
The report states that some women involved in the clashes allowed four armed men to take her. These men belonged to a valley-based outfit. They took her to a hilltop.
There, three of the men allegedly took turns sexually assaulting her. Afterwards, they dumped her in a creek, leaving her for dead.
Escape and a Long Struggle for Health
Miraculously, she survived. An autorickshaw driver discovered her. He was ferrying vegetables at the time. The very next day, she fled the Imphal Valley as unrest escalated.
Her search for treatment began at a hospital in Kangpokpi. Doctors then referred her to facilities in Kohima, Nagaland, and later to Guwahati in Assam. She received months of medical care.
Despite this treatment, her health never fully recovered. The ITLF stated she continued to suffer from severe uterine complications. The psychological scars of the assault also remained deeply embedded.
Calls for Accountability and Justice
The Committee on Tribal Unity has issued a strong appeal to the Union government. They are demanding justice for the young woman. The committee stated that holding the perpetrators accountable is crucial.
They emphasized that such action would uphold the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Beti Bachao vision. The call for a proper investigation and legal action grows louder in the wake of her death.
The victim's identity has not been revealed. This is in strict adherence to Supreme Court directives designed to protect the privacy of sexual assault survivors.
