Manipur Victim Dies Awaiting Justice: Kuki-Zo Woman Succumbs to 2023 Ethnic Violence Trauma
A young woman from Manipur's Kuki-Zo community has died while waiting for justice. She became the unseen face of mob-fuelled sexual violence during the May 2023 ethnic rioting in the state. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum confirmed her death on January 10.
Years of Suffering Without Resolution
The woman was just eighteen years old when attackers abducted her. Alleged members of an armed group took her during the height of ethnic tensions. She carried severe physical and psychological injuries that never properly healed. These injuries ultimately led to her tragic death.
Her First Information Report remains pending at Porompat police station in Imphal East. Authorities filed this FIR two-and-a-half years ago. Police have not identified any of her alleged attackers despite the lengthy investigation period.
Community Demands Accountability Through Vigil
Kuki-Zo organizations held a candlelight vigil on Saturday. The Committee on Tribal Unity joined this demonstration. Participants demanded accountability for the woman's trauma. She endured suffering through approximately thirty months following the assault.
The victim first reported the alleged crime to Kangpokpi police on July 21, 2023. This reporting occurred two months after the actual assault. She fled Imphal Valley amid spiraling unrest before making this official report.
Detailed Account of the Assault
The FIR provides specific details about the abduction. It states that armed men seized her on May 15, 2023. The location was near an ATM booth in Imphal's New Checkon area.
Women from a group involved in ethnic clashes allegedly permitted four armed men to take her. These men belonged to a valley-based outfit. They transported her to a hilltop location.
Three of the armed men then took turns sexually brutalizing her. After the assault, they dumped her in a creek. The woman survived only because an autorickshaw driver discovered her. This driver was transporting vegetables when he found the injured victim.
Medical Journey and Continued Suffering
The woman fled Imphal the day after her rescue. She sought immediate treatment at a Kangpokpi hospital. Medical staff referred her to a hospital in Kohima, Nagaland. Later, she received further treatment in Guwahati, Assam.
Despite months of medical care, her physical and psychological wounds persisted. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum confirmed she suffered ongoing uterine complications. Deep psychological trauma also plagued her throughout this period.
The organization described her death as emblematic of atrocities faced by the community. These atrocities occurred during the extended ethnic violence in Manipur.
Calls for Government Action
The Committee on Tribal Unity has urged the Union government to ensure justice. They specifically called for punishment of the perpetrators. The organization connected this case to national initiatives.
They stated that delivering justice would uphold the spirit of the Prime Minister's Beti Bachao vision. This vision focuses on protecting daughters across India. The community continues to wait for meaningful action regarding this tragic case.
