Three years after a horrifying video of their assault went viral and sparked international outrage, two Kuki-Zo women gang-raped during ethnic violence in Manipur are still awaiting justice, according to a report in The Hindu that examined the status of the criminal case and the broader failure of legal accountability in India's northeastern conflict zones.
The incident occurred in May 2023 during the outbreak of ethnic violence between the predominantly Hindu Meitei community and the Christian Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur. Video footage showing the women being stripped, paraded naked, and sexually assaulted by a mob circulated on social media, forcing the Modi government to publicly address violence that had been ongoing for weeks with limited national media attention.
The viral video, while traumatic for the survivors, provided rare video evidence in a gang-rape case—typically among the most difficult crimes to prosecute in India's overburdened criminal justice system. Yet three years later, the trial has not concluded. Charges were filed against multiple accused, but proceedings have stalled amid witness intimidation concerns, jurisdictional complications, and the broader breakdown of civil administration in Manipur's conflict-affected districts.
In India, as across the subcontinent, scale and diversity make simple narratives impossible—and fascinating. Manipur, a state of 3.7 million people bordering Myanmar, has experienced periodic ethnic tensions for decades, but the 2023 violence marked a severe escalation. More than 200 people have been killed, and tens of thousands displaced in clashes that reflect deep-seated grievances over land rights, political representation, and economic opportunities.
The Kuki-Zo communities, who primarily inhabit Manipur's hills, have accused the Meitei-dominated state government of bias and complicity in violence against their community. They point to delays in prosecuting crimes against Kuki victims, inadequate protection for witnesses, and the continued presence of accused individuals in positions of influence. Meitei groups counter that their community has also suffered violence and that justice must be even-handed.
The Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognizance of the Manipur violence and the specific gang-rape case, directing investigations and periodic status reports. However, legal experts note that even Supreme Court oversight has not accelerated prosecutions. Witnesses fear retaliation in an environment where ethnic divisions remain stark and communities live in effective segregation.
