Justice Denied Until Death: Manipur's Conflict Rape Survivor Died Without Justice

A young Kuki-Zo woman, who endured abduction and unspeakable sexual brutality during the earliest and most volatile days of Manipur’s ethnic violence in May 2023, has succumbed to her injuries nearly three years later—bringing a tragic end to a prolonged battle for life and justice.

Lhingnu Haokip (name changed), who had been undergoing extended medical treatment at Apollo Hospital, Guwahati, breathed her last on January 10, 2026, due to complications arising from the grave injuries inflicted upon her during the violence.

She was barely 18 years old when she was assaulted—standing at the threshold of adulthood, with dreams and a future ahead of her. At the time of her death, she was around 20. A resident of New Checkon Colony, Imphal, a mixed-ethnic locality that quickly turned into a flashpoint following the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, her life was irrevocably altered within days of the conflict.

According to survivor testimony and documentation compiled by community organisations, the incident occurred on May 15, 2023, when Lhingnu stepped out to an ATM booth in New Checkon to withdraw money. She was allegedly intercepted by members of the Meira Paibis, a Meitei women’s group, who reportedly assaulted her and questioned her identity.

She was subsequently handed over to armed men allegedly associated with the Meitei militia group Arambai Tenggol. Dressed in black T-shirts and carrying firearms, the assailants blindfolded her, tied her hands, and transported her across several locations, including Wangkhei Ayangpali and Langol in Imphal, where she was subjected to brutal gang rape and severe physical assault.

Left for dead in a critical condition, the young woman somehow found the strength to escape. In an act of rare humanity amid the violence, she was later rescued by a good Samaritan autorickshaw driver from the Muslim community, who ensured she received medical assistance.

She was initially treated in Manipur before being referred to a specialised medical facility in Guwahati, Assam, as the extent of her injuries far exceeded local treatment capacity.

For nearly three agonising years, Lhingnu lived in constant pain—battling recurring infections, internal injuries, and the invisible but devastating wounds of trauma. Medical sources indicated that severe uterine damage and long-term trauma-related complications progressively deteriorated her health, ultimately leading to her untimely death.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) expressed profound sorrow and anguish over her demise. A candlelight vigil was held at Brig. M. Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi, while another vigil was organised at the Wall of Remembrance in Churachandpur under the aegis of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), paying tribute to the young woman who fought for justice till her last breath.

CoTU spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen lamented that “our brave girl survived the violence, but not the silence.” He stated that her death is not merely a personal tragedy but a damning indictment of a system that failed to protect her, failed to heal her wounds, and failed to bring her perpetrators to justice.

“She spent her final years moving between hospital wards and court files, between pain and hope, only to be met with delay after delay. While she fought to survive, justice remained painfully out of reach,” Kipgen added.

An FIR was registered under Sections 354, 307, 364, 376, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Yet, nearly three years later, not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice. The accused continue to walk free, while the victim has been laid to rest, Kipgen asserted.

He further remarked that Lhingnu’s story has now become a symbol of the countless unheard voices silenced by conflict, neglect, and institutional apathy. “She survived abduction, sexual violence, and displacement—but she could not survive a system that moved too slowly to save her.”

“She died carrying scars no human being should ever bear. She died waiting—for justice, for dignity, for acknowledgment,” Kipgen said.

Vehemently condemning the inaction of both the Central and State Governments and concerned authorities, Kuki Women’s Union (KWU), Sadar Hills President Nengboi Hmar stated that political rhetoric and calls for reconciliation ring hollow when victims like Lhingnu die waiting for justice.

Visibly emotional, Hmar said the most tragic and heartbreaking reality is that the victim breathed her last while still waiting for justice. “She carried the unbearable weight of trauma, hope, and suffering to her grave—abandoned by a system that promised protection but delivered only silence and delay.”

She stressed that Lhingnu’s death stands as a painful reminder that justice delayed is not merely justice denied—it is humanity denied.

“Even more shocking is the fact that a rape survivor was denied justice for nearly three years, exposing a grave failure of governance. Is this how the Central and State Governments address the Manipur conflict—by allowing cases of such brutality to fade into neglect and indifference?” Hmar questioned, adding that such inaction reflects not just administrative failure but a disturbing disregard for the lives and dignity of victims.

Raising her voice in anguish and shouting, “Where is our beloved daughter?”, Hmar asserted that this is precisely why coexistence has become impossible. She stated that separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with Legislature is the only viable option for the community to ensure safety, dignity, and justice