According to her family, the woman never fully recovered from the injuries sustained during the assault, which caused recurring health complications, including breathing difficulties. Her mother said the prolonged trauma took a severe toll on her physical and mental health, ultimately leading to her death.

The case dates back to May 15, 2023, days after violence erupted following protests against a Manipur High Court order related to Scheduled Tribe status. In her FIR filed on July 21, 2023, the survivor alleged that four armed men abducted her in a white Bolero, took her to a remote hilly area, and sexually assaulted her through the night. She stated that three of the men raped her in turns while the fourth remained with the vehicle.

The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 22, 2023. However, no arrests have been made so far. Police officials have not publicly commented on the status of the probe following her death.

In her statement, the survivor had described how she escaped at dawn by removing her blindfold under the pretext of using the toilet. She fled downhill and was assisted by an auto-rickshaw driver who took her first to a police station and later to her home. She was subsequently hospitalised in Manipur and later shifted to Kohima, Nagaland, for advanced treatment.

The woman’s death has renewed calls for accountability. Members of the Kuki community held a candlelight march in Churachandpur on January 17, demanding swift arrests and justice in the case.

The incident is among the most disturbing crimes reported during Manipur’s prolonged ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began in May 2023 and led to widespread displacement, killings, and destruction. The unrest persisted into early 2025, culminating in the resignation of then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the imposition of President’s Rule in February 2025, which remains in effect.

Legal experts say the absence of arrests nearly two years after the case was handed to the CBI raises serious concerns about investigative delays and survivor justice in conflict-hit regions. Human rights groups have urged the Centre to ensure accountability and victim protection as Manipur continues to face fragile law-and-order conditions.a