In a shocking case, a 25-year-old Kuki woman married to a Meitei man went through brutal assault allegedly by the husband and the Meitei women’s group Meira Paibis, leaving her with grievous injuries.
The woman was married to a Meitei man named Inaocha Khaidem and was living with him in Imphal. It is to be noted that post the ethnic violence in May 2023 that hit Manipur, all the tribal communities, except the Nagas, were forced to leave Imphal, with their homes either being captured or burnt to ashes.
Speaking to Maktoob, Uthonglal Bongphajol, cousin of the victim, said that the woman is hospitalized in Lamka and is recovering.
According to videos doing rounds on social media, the woman has received injuries all over her body. However, it is not the first time that women have been tortured like this.
Soon after Manipur was hit with violence in May 2023, Bongphajol said that her husband started getting violent with her. He said that the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol also attempted to murder her when Manipur was hit with violence in May 2023.
“In May itself, members of the group slit her throat with a knife and left her on the roadside to die,” he said.
However, with the timely intervention of the Manipur Police at the time, the woman received medical aid and survived. “We had thought she died, but they found out she received medical aid,” he said.
The woman has been married to Khaidem for the past 10 years. They have a son and a daughter, both of whom are with the father at the moment.
According to the statement by the family, Khaidem had reached out to them a few days back, telling them that due to the situation in Imphal, he was sending her back.
Her family agreed, after which the woman was abandoned at Ningthoukong Gate in Bishnupur District.
She was found by her neighbours, who belong to the Naga community, and transported to a Kuki village. Upon her arrival, she collapsed from exhaustion and injuries. Her family discovered bruises covering her entire body, the result of days of extreme violence.
In a video statement, the woman has meanwhile alleged that she was forced to drink alcohol and raped for five days continuously.
While medical reports are awaited, her family has alleged that her private parts were bleeding.
Reacting to the situation, various Kuki organisations have expressed outrage.
A zero FIR has been registered at the Women Police Station in Imphal after the complaint was filed in Churachandpur. A case of domestic violence has been registered against the husband and his family.
“Investigation of the case is in progress and the husband, namely Mr. Khaidem Naocha, has been arrested by the Police for further investigation,” the Manipur Police said in a statement. However, no case has been registered against Meira Paibis.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) released a statement and expressed outrage over the incident.
“We express deep disappointment that the Meira Paibis, a group historically formed to defend the rights and dignity of women, have turned into instruments of ethnic hatred and violence. As the ethnic cleansing of Kuki communities by Meitei groups continues, Meira Paibis have repeatedly been complicit in acts of violence, including the rape, torture, and killing of Kuki women and girls,” they said.
This is not the first time Kuki-Zo women have been subjected to such brutal violence. In July 2023, a video went viral of two women being forcibly stripped, paraded naked, publicly molested, and allegedly gang-raped.
Meanwhile, both Kuki-Zo and Meitei women have been subjected to gun violence as well. The situation in Manipur continues to be tense as conversations of peace talks continue.
