Manipur rape: She fell down while fleeing, then men pounced on her

Displaced residents at a medical camp, organised by the Assam Rifles, in Imphal, Manipur. File pic/PTI

Another horrific case of rape and brutal assault has come to light in ethnic violence-hit Manipur after the survivor - now living in a relief camp - filed a detailed complaint with the police.

The 37-year-old resident of Churachandpur district was gang raped on May 3, the day violence broke out between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki communities in the state. According to her complaint, she and her sister-in-law, with their children, were fleeing when a mob attacked and burnt down their houses. "I carried my niece on my back and also held my two sons and started running. My sister-in-law was also carrying a baby on her back and running ahead of me," the complaint read.

"Then I stumbled and fell down on the road and was unable to get up. My sister-in-law came running towards me and picked up my niece from my back and ran along with my two sons. Five-six people got hold of me and started verbally abusing and assaulting me. Despite my resistance, I was forcefully pinned down and sexually assaulted... They inserted their fingers into my private part violently... Some more men joined them. At that time, I lost consciousness. Later, when I regained my senses, I found myself in a house surrounded by some Meitei people."

She was treated at two hospitals in Imphal. The woman said she did not file the complaint earlier fearing social ostracism. "Now, I have decided to come forward and file this complaint since I started realising the trauma and suffering that I went through because of the heinous crimes committed against me without any fault of mine. Adequate punishment should be given to the culprits for sexually and physically assaulting me in the most horrific manner," she said.

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