Imphal, Jan 19: The death of a Kuki woman from Manipur has triggered fresh protests and strong reactions from community organisations, who allege that her prolonged illness stemmed from the trauma and injuries she suffered after being gang-raped during the early phase of ethnic violence in the state in 2023.
Kuki organisations in Churachandpur and Delhi said the woman was abducted in Imphal and sexually assaulted by a group in May 2023. Although she managed to escape, the organisations claimed that she never fully recovered, physically or psychologically, from the ordeal. She passed away on January 10 while undergoing medical treatment in Guwahati, they said.
Her death has renewed calls for a separate administrative arrangement for the Kuki-Zo people, with several groups asserting that coexistence with the Meitei community has become untenable under the prevailing conditions. The demand has gained urgency amid continuing grievances over safety, justice and accountability.
Ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hill-based Kuki-Zo groups has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands since May 2023. Manipur has remained under President’s Rule since February last year, reflecting the severity and persistence of the crisis.
In a statement, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum described the woman’s death as emblematic of the violence endured by the Kuki-Zo community. It said the incident underscored the urgent need for a separate administration to ensure safety, dignity and survival. The forum also organised a candlelight march in Churachandpur on Saturday evening to honour her memory.
The Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi and NCR, accused authorities of failing to take meaningful action against those responsible for the crime despite repeated appeals. The organisation demanded that the woman’s death be officially recognised as a direct consequence of the violence inflicted on her in 2023, warning that any other classification would amount to denial of justice and an attempt to evade responsibility. It also urged the Centre to fast-track the process of establishing a separate administration for tribal communities, calling it unavoidable.
Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum said the woman would be remembered for her resilience as much as for the injustice she suffered. The group noted that she had lived with immense pain for years, describing her story as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict.
