Kuki-Zo women hold sit-in protest in Manipur’s Kangpokpi, seek justice for survivors of sexual violence

Hundreds of Kuki-Zo women staged a sit-in protest in Kangpokpi town of Manipur on January 22, demanding justice for victims of sexual violence amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state, particularly for a young rape survivor who died recently after allegedly waiting nearly three years for justice.

The protest, organised by Kuki-Zo women of Sadar Hills, was held to condemn what the demonstrators described as systemic sexual violence, killings, and prolonged inaction by authorities in cases involving Kuki-Zo women since the outbreak of violence in May 2023.
Women protesters sat in silent defiance, holding placards reading “No Arrests, No Justice, Catch the Perpetrators Now,” “Government Inaction Allows Impunity,” and “Indian Women, Stand With Us,” among others. The demonstrators appealed to women across the country to express solidarity, calling the issue a national concern rather than a regional one.

Addressing the gathering, Kuki Women Union, Sadar Hills President Nengboi Hmar spoke about the alleged targeting of Kuki-Zo women during the conflict. She referred to the case of a 20-year-old Kuki-Zo woman who was allegedly gang-raped on May 15, 2023, abducted, and left severely injured. The survivor reportedly died recently without seeing any of the accused brought to justice.
“If the government failed to protect her, it should have at least ensured justice,” Hmar said, questioning the delay in arrests despite the registration of cases and transfer of investigations.

Protesters alleged that no perpetrators have been arrested in several cases, even after Zero FIRs were registered and investigations transferred to central agencies. They claimed the lack of accountability has compounded the trauma of survivors and families.
During the protest, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Women Wing submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi, seeking immediate intervention.

According to the memorandum, at least 29 Kuki-Zo women were killed between May 2023 and November 2024, including young women, elderly women and a mentally challenged woman. It alleged that the victims faced violence including rape, gang rape, lynching, abduction, hacking to death, burning alive and custodial neglect.

The memorandum also cited several cases, including the alleged rape and murder of Florence Nengpichong Hangshing (27) and Olivia Lhingneithem Chongloi (23) on May 4, 2023, and the public stripping and alleged gang rape of two Kuki-Zo women in Kangpokpi district, incidents that drew national and international attention.

Calling the situation a failure of the justice delivery system, the CoTU Women Wing demanded immediate arrests, time-bound and transparent investigations, independent judicial oversight, recognition of the crimes as crimes against humanity, compensation and rehabilitation for victims’ families, and protection for survivors and witnesses.

The memorandum warned that delays in justice have had fatal consequences and urged urgent action.

As the protest concluded, the women said they would continue their agitation until justice is delivered, asserting that silence was no longer an option in the face of continued violence against women.