Women’s wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) stage a protest close to the ‘Wall of Remembrance’ erected to honor lives misplaced throughout the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, in Churachandpur, on July 22, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
An 18-year-old woman who was kidnapped, assaulted and gang-raped in Imphal East in Manipur on May 15, approached the police on Friday, after which a zero First Information Report (FIR) was registered, a police supply mentioned.
According to the FIR, the woman mentioned {that a} group of girls — whom she recognized as Meira Paibis (girls torchbearers), often known as ‘Mothers of Manipur’ — had handed her over to 4 armed males carrying black garments. The Hindu has accessed a replica of the FIR.
The rape survivor, who was admitted in a essential situation at a hospital in the neighbouring State of Nagaland, approached the Kangpokpi police on Friday, following which a zero FIR was registered below numerous sections of assault, try and homicide, abduction, gangrape, and atrocities towards Scheduled Tribes, towards “unknown miscreants and Meira Paibis.” Zero FIRs are filed regardless of jurisdiction. The case has been transferred to the Imphal East station, a police supply mentioned on Saturday.
Handed over by girls
This is one among a variety of instances of sexual violence which have been reported from the State since ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki and the bulk Meitei communities erupted on May 3.
The traumatised woman got here ahead to complain after a video went viral this week, exhibiting three girls who had been stripped and paraded, one among them raped, in Thoubal on May 4.
The FIR states that, round 5 p.m. on May 15, 4 males kidnapped the woman in a purple color automobile to Wangkhei Ayangpali the place they punched and hit her. “Then they called Meira Paibis and several local men who took turns in slapping and punching me. Then I heard one of the ladies saying that we must call “Arambai Tengol”. Then Four 4 arrived in black shirt with some logos on their again and all of them had been carrying weapons,” the FIR mentioned.
Assault, homicide threats
She added that two of the boys had been in their mid-30s, whereas two gave the impression to be in their 50s. She mentioned that one of many woman among the many mob gave clear directions to the 4 males to kill her. The 4 males then shoved her in one other automobile and drove away. “They continuously asked me random questions and no matter what I answered or tried to remain silent they would slap me and couple of times also hit me with the butt of their guns. Then we reached a place which was slightly on a hill top where they decided to kill me,” she mentioned in the FIR.
The woman mentioned that she had heard the boys talk about plans to kill her, however one among them mentioned that it might entice police motion. She mentioned she fell on the toes of the oldest among the many 4 males and begged for her life. “I even promised them that I will never return to Imphal, just let me go; I want to meet my parents. Then they put me in car again and they drove me around to look for a better location to kill me. After driving around for a while, they stopped the car again in hilly top area. They dragged me out of the car and starting physically assaulting me by kicking, slapping, punching etc. One of the blows on my face with the butt of the gun was so hard that I blacked out for a while. My eyes opened when I felt drizzle of rain on my face,” she mentioned.
Raped by three males
She mentioned that when she was aware, the boys slapped her once more. Three of the 4 males then took turns to rape her. “By this time my ears, face and head were bleeding really bad to the extent that my clothes and face were drenched in blood. Then there was this argument between the three men who raped me and the one who did not, that I should be killed… They said that if we let you go then you will go to police to file FIR but be rest assured if you go to police, we will find you and kill you. While they were arguing on whether to let me go or kill me; one of them was trying to turn the car around and by accident it hit me and I fell off the creek from that hilltop,” the FIR mentioned. .
‘I don’t belief the police’
She mentioned she hurtled down and landed on a street the place she requested an autorickshaw for assist.
“Seeing me in that condition; drenched in blood the auto rickshaw driver took me to Bishnupur Police Station. He hid me under a pile of vegetables he was carrying. Upon arriving the police station, I heard them that the police who will drop me home are from the Meitei community. I begged the driver to drop me home i.e. New Lambulane area as I don’t trust the police. On May 16, I left Imphal around 4.30 am and came to Sapormeina. Thereafter, I went to Kangpokpi District Hospital for treatment but they referred me to Kohima Hospital as my condition was critical,” the FIR mentioned.
