Manipur Conflict: Rape survivor dies after a three-year struggle

A young Kuki-Zo woman who was allegedly abducted and brutally sexually assaulted during the early days of Manipur’s ethnic violence in May 2023 has died after battling grave injuries and trauma for nearly three years, reigniting outrage over delayed justice and systemic failure in addressing crimes against women in conflict zones.

The survivor passed away on January 10, 2026, at a private hospital in Guwahati, where she had been undergoing prolonged treatment for severe physical and psychological injuries sustained during the violence. She was around 20 years old at the time of her death.

The victim was just 18 when the incident occurred on May 15, 2023. A resident of New Checkon Colony in Imphal—then a mixed-ethnic locality that soon became a flashpoint—she had stepped out to an ATM to withdraw money when she was allegedly intercepted.

According to survivor testimony and documentation compiled by community organisations, she was assaulted, questioned about her identity, and later handed over to an armed men group.

The assailants reportedly blindfolded her, tied her hands, and transported her to multiple locations in Imphal, including Wangkhei Ayangpali and Langol, where she was subjected to sexual and severe physical assault. She was left in a critical condition and presumed dead before managing to escape.

A Muslim autorickshaw driver later rescued her and ensured she received medical help.

After initial treatment in Manipur, the victim was shifted to Guwahati due to the seriousness of her injuries. Medical sources indicated that extensive uterine damage, recurrent infections, and long-term trauma-related complications progressively deteriorated her health, ultimately leading to her death.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) expressed deep anguish over her demise, stating that her death represents not just a personal tragedy but a stark indictment of institutional apathy. Candlelight vigils were held at Brigadier M. Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi and at the Wall of Remembrance in Churachandpur under the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), as community members paid tribute to her prolonged fight for justice.

CoTU spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen said that while the survivor endured violence and survived for years, justice never arrived. “She survived the violence, but not the silence. She spent her final years moving between hospital wards and court files, between pain and hope, only to be met with delay after delay,” he said.

An FIR had been registered under Sections 354, 307, 364, 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, nearly three years later, no accused has been brought to justice, community leaders alleged.

The Kuki Women’s Union (KWU), Sadar Hills, strongly condemned the delay in justice. Its president, Nengboi Hmar, said the survivor’s death while awaiting justice exposed a grave failure of governance. “Justice delayed in this case is not just justice denied—it is humanity denied,” she said, questioning how authorities could allow such a case to languish without accountability.

Hmar added that the tragedy underscores the depth of mistrust and fear among affected communities, asserting that repeated failures to ensure safety and justice have made coexistence increasingly untenable.

The victim's death has come to symbolise the suffering of countless victims of the Manipur conflict whose voices, community leaders say, remain unheard—raising urgent questions about accountability, justice delivery, and the protection of women in times of ethnic violence.