Woman says gangraped while trying to escape Churachandpur violence, cops lodge FIR

In another case of violence against women in conflict-hit Manipur, a Meitei woman in her thirties has now alleged that she was gangraped by “Kuki miscreants” while she was trying to escape mob violence in Churachandpur district on May 3. A complaint was lodged at the women police station in Bishnupur district on Wednesday. 

Bishnupur SP Roni Mayengbam said the police have filed a zero FIR, which has been “transferred to the women police station of Churachandpur as the incident happened in their jurisdiction”. A case has been filed under IPC sections 376 D (gang rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to women to outrage her modesty) and 120 B/34 ( criminal conspiracy with common intention).

As per the FIR accessed by Newslaundry, the incident took place while the victim was trying to escape a mob, which burnt down her house. “I carried my niece on my back and held my two sons… I stumbled and fell on the road… about half a kilometre from my place.” While the children were rescued by her sister-in-law, the victim was reportedly held back by five to six people who sexually assaulted her, as per the FIR. “Some more Kuki miscreants also joined them.” The victim lost consciousness, and as she regained her senses, she found herself in a house with Meitei people.   

The FIR further said that the victim did not disclose the incident earlier to “save” herself and her family from “social ostracism”. “The delay in filing the complaint is due to social stigma.” 

It said the victim reportedly went to a government hospital following the incident, but did not see the doctor as she “couldn’t express” herself. She saw a doctor at another hospital on August 8 as her “discomfort increased”, the FIR said.   

Bishnupur SP Roni Mayengbam said, “The FIR was registered at the women police station of Bishnupur around 4.30 pm on Wednesday. We registered a zero FIR and transferred it to the women police station of Churachandpur as the incident happened in their jurisdiction. The woman belonged to the Meitei community and was raped on May 3. She was attacked while she was trying to escape Churachandpur on May 3 as the violence broke out in Manipur.”