In a heart-wrenching development that has reignited national anger, a 20-year-old Kuki-Zo woman—the sole known survivor of a brutal gang-rape during the peak of Manipur’s 2023 ethnic violence—has died from complications linked to her injuries. Her passing is not just a personal tragedy; it is a damning indictment of systemic failure. Despite her harrowing testimony and repeated pleas from her family and human rights groups, **no First Information Report (FIR) was ever filed**, and **not a single perpetrator has been identified or arrested** .
This case has become a symbol of the prolonged suffering endured by countless victims in Manipur’s ongoing crisis—a conflict that has pitted the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities against each other since May 2023. The young woman’s death underscores a chilling reality: in some corners of India, even the most heinous crimes can vanish into bureaucratic silence.
Table of Contents
- The Horror of May 2023
- A Life Lived in Pain and Fear
- Why Was No FIR Filed?
- National and International Reactions
- The Broader Crisis in Manipur
- Conclusion: A Call for Urgent Justice
- Sources
The Horror of May 2023
On May 4, 2023, as ethnic tensions exploded across Manipur, armed mobs roamed villages in the Kangpokpi district. According to survivor accounts and local activists, the young woman was forcibly taken from her home by a group of men, handed over to an armed faction, and subjected to a horrific gang-rape before being dumped unconscious in a creek .
She was found hours later by villagers, barely alive, and rushed to a hospital. Though she survived the initial attack, she suffered severe physical and psychological trauma that would haunt her for the rest of her short life. Her family reported the incident to local police immediately—but were met with indifference, fear, and, ultimately, inaction.
A Life Lived in Pain and Fear
For nearly three years, the survivor lived in hiding, moving between safe houses due to threats and stigma. She underwent multiple surgeries and struggled with chronic pain, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Her family sold their land and livestock to afford medical care, all while begging authorities for justice .
“She never stopped asking, ‘Will they be punished?’” her mother told reporters, her voice breaking. “Now she’s gone, and the answer is still no.”
Why Was No FIR Filed?
Under Indian law, police are legally obligated to register an FIR for cognizable offenses like rape. Yet in this case—and many others from the Manipur conflict—authorities have cited “lack of evidence,” “communal sensitivity,” and “ongoing investigations” as reasons for delay. Critics argue these are excuses masking complicity, fear of reprisal, or institutional bias .
Key failures in this case include:
- No crime scene visit: Police never secured or examined the location where she was found.
- No forensic collection: Critical biological evidence was lost due to delayed medical examination.
- No witness protection: Family members who tried to speak out faced intimidation.
- Political silence: State leadership has largely avoided addressing sexual violence in the conflict.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notices to the Manipur government in 2024, but no concrete action followed .
National and International Reactions
The news of her death has triggered widespread condemnation. Women’s rights organizations like the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) have called it “a state-sanctioned murder by negligence.” The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women expressed “deep concern” over the culture of impunity in Manipur .
Opposition leaders in Parliament demanded an independent CBI probe, while civil society groups organized candlelight vigils in Delhi, Mumbai, and Imphal. Social media campaigns under #JusticeForManipurVictim have gone viral, with citizens demanding accountability from both state and central governments.
The Broader Crisis in Manipur
This case is not isolated. Since May 2023, over 230 people have been killed and more than 60,000 displaced in the Meitei-Kuki conflict. Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch document numerous cases of sexual violence, arson, and extrajudicial killings—most of which remain uninvestigated .
The conflict stems from long-standing grievances over land rights, political representation, and tribal identity. The recent push to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community sparked fears among Kuki-Zo groups of demographic and cultural marginalization—fueling the violence. In this volatile environment, women have become prime targets of weaponized sexual violence, used to terrorize entire communities.
Conclusion: A Call for Urgent Justice
The death of this young Kuki-Zo woman in the Manipur gang-rape case is more than a tragedy—it is a national shame. It exposes a justice system that fails its most vulnerable, especially in conflict zones where rule of law evaporates. Her final breath should not be in vain. There must be an immediate, independent investigation—not just into her case, but into the systemic collapse that allowed it to fester for years.
As citizens, we must demand that the Government of India uphold its constitutional duty to protect every citizen, regardless of ethnicity or geography. Justice delayed is justice denied—and in this case, it came too late. To learn more about the legal rights of survivors in conflict zones, see our guide on [INTERNAL_LINK:support-for-sexual-violence-survivors-india].
Sources
- “Manipur unrest horror: Teen abducted, handed to armed group, gangraped, dumped in creek, dies as FIR remains pending,” Times of India.
- “Ethnic violence in Manipur: A timeline of the crisis,” The Hindu.
- “Survivor of Manipur gang-rape dies without justice,” Indian Express.
- “Why FIRs go missing in Manipur’s conflict zones,” Scroll.in.
- “NHRC notice to Manipur govt over gang-rape case,” The Wire.
- “UN expert alarmed by sexual violence in Manipur,” OHCHR Press Release.
- “‘We Don’t Have Him’: Ethnic Conflict and Atrocities in Manipur,” Human Rights Watch, 2025.