An autopsy revealing signs of “third-degree” torture, including burns and nails driven into the victim’s body while she was alive, has highlighted the shocking brutality of the murder of a 31-year-old mother of three in Manipur. The woman, a tribal resident of Zairawn village, was allegedly raped and then burned to death by armed intruders on November 7. This tragic incident has triggered a wave of violence in the region.
The autopsy, conducted at Silchar Medical College in Assam, could not confirm if the woman was sexually assaulted due to the severe damage to her body, which made it impossible to collect evidence such as a vaginal smear. The woman’s body was found to be 99% burned, with even her bones charred. The report also noted a wound on her right thigh and a metallic nail embedded in her left thigh. Other parts of her body, including her upper right limb, parts of both lower limbs, and facial structure, were missing due to the severity of the burns.
The FIR filed in the case cites the victim’s husband, who stated that she was raped before being “brutally killed” in their home. On the same night, the attackers are also believed to have looted and set fire to 17 other homes in the Zairawn area. The assailants are suspected to be members of a militant group based in the valley.
The brutal killing has sparked widespread condemnation from Kuki-Zo organizations, who have labeled it “barbaric.” These groups are angered by the failure of security forces to identify the perpetrators. In response, the Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee of Pherzawl and Jiribam has called for central government intervention to protect the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities in the affected regions. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, a coalition of tribal groups from Churachandpur, has warned of potential unrest if the attackers are not apprehended soon.
This woman’s alleged rape and murder are a grim reminder of the violence that has plagued Manipur since last May, during which many women have been victims of horrific acts, including sexual violence and killings. The ongoing ethnic conflict between hill and valley communities has displaced hundreds of families, leaving them confined to relief shelters in Jiribam and other areas of the state.
Due to the ongoing ethnic violence, Manipur Police chose to transport the woman’s charred remains to Silchar, located just under 50 kilometers from Jiribam, instead of Imphal for the autopsy. The decision was made because it was deemed “inconvenient” to transport the body by road via NH-37 due to the ongoing ethnic crisis in the region.
