Key Points
The woman was abducted, gang-raped, assaulted, and left for dead in Imphal, Manipur, in May 2023, during the early days of the Meitei–Kuki ethnic violence.
Almost three years later, despite an FIR being registered and the case having been transferred to the CBI in July 2023, no arrests have been made.
Doctors linked her condition to the injuries and prolonged trauma caused by the assault. Tribal organisations held candlelight vigils for the woman, while her mother has called for accountability.
A 20-year-old Kuki woman died on 10 January 2026, almost three years after being gang-raped and assaulted during the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence. She suffered prolonged trauma and injuries from the incident, which led to her death. Until now, no arrests have been made in the case.
The assault took place in Imphal on 15 May 2023, shortly after clashes broke out between the valley-dominant Meitei community and Kuki-Zo community from the hill districts. A complaint and an FIR were filed on 21 July 2023.
In her complaint, the woman had stepped out from New Checkon Colony to withdraw money from an ATM when she was abducted by four men who questioned her identity. She was taken to several locations across Imphal, including Wangkhei Ayanpali and Langol, where she was subjected to repeated sexual assault and severe physical violence. She was later abandoned in Bishnupur after she was pushed off a cliff and her attackers presumed her to be dead. An autorickshaw driver rescued her and took her to safety, after which she was admitted to hospital.
Due to the severity of her injuries, the survivor was later shifted for treatment outside the state, including to hospitals in Guwahati and Kohima. Speaking to Newslaundry, her mother said that she underwent multiple medical procedures over the next two years, including surgery as recently as October 2025. However, the physical injuries, combined with deep psychological trauma, continued to affect her health.
“She never fully recovered,” the mother said. She described how her daughter, once outgoing and cheerful, became withdrawn, fearful and largely confined to one room. According to the family, the trauma led to breathing problems, insomnia and recurring illness. She died while undergoing treatment, with doctors linking her deteriorating condition to the injuries and prolonged trauma caused by the assault.
Based on the woman’s statement, an FIR was registered under Sections 354, 307, 364, 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation on 22 July 2023.
The case was highlighted in a complaint sent to the National Commission for Women, along with other incidents of violence and sexual abuse against Koki-Zo women. Despite this, no arrests have been made in the case almost three years since. In her statement, the woman identified the men as wearing black t-shirts with logos on the back – allegedly members of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol.
“I have only one wish left in life,” the woman’s mother said to Newslaundry, “to see the people who did this to her punished.” The Churachandpur-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) organised a candlelight vigil in her memory, calling attention to the delay in justice. The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Delhi & NCR, also called for immediate action and accountability for the incident.
Manipur has witnessed prolonged unrest since May 2023, with more than 260 people killed and nearly 50,000 displaced due to ethnic violence linked to disputes over land rights and political representation. While some high-profile cases from the violence have seen arrests, the lack of progress in this case has intensified concerns about accountability.
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