The victim was abducted on May 15, 2023, from an ATM in New Checkon area, Imphal East, by four men during clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. She was taken to a hilltop in Bishnupur district where three of the four men allegedly assaulted her. The survivor escaped, fell off a creek, and was rescued by a local auto-rickshaw driver.
Following the attack, she was diagnosed with uterine fibrosis, other complications, depression, and post-traumatic stress. The family registered a zero FIR at Kangpokpi police station under sections 354, 307, 364, 376, 376D, 506, 34 IPC, and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The ethnic clashes in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, leaving over 260 people dead and displacing more than 60,000 individuals. The gang-rape incident highlights the intersecting crises of gender-based violence and ethnic conflict in the region.
Authorities have been criticized for delays and shortcomings in rescue and medical response. Civil society groups continue to demand justice, victim support, and accountability for failures in public safety and law enforcement.
Experts say that comprehensive trauma care and timely legal intervention are crucial for survivors of sexual violence, especially amid ongoing community conflicts. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for stricter measures to protect women in conflict zones.
