Autopsy findings from Silchar Medical College in Assam have revealed the horrifying extent of torture suffered by a 31-year-old mother of three, who was allegedly raped and burned alive by armed assailants inside her home in Jiribam, Manipur, on November 7. The woman’s body, which was reportedly 99% charred, showed signs of severe third-degree burns, along with injuries from nails and other forms of torture that indicated she had been alive when the attacks occurred. Her husband, in an FIR, described how she was raped and “brutally killed” at their residence, with 17 other homes in their village of Zairawn also set ablaze by suspected members of a valley-based group.
The autopsy report paints a grim picture, revealing that a nail was embedded in the woman’s thigh, and her burns were so severe that they left her bones charred, with parts of her limbs and facial structure missing. Given the extent of the burns, it was not possible for doctors to conduct a vaginal smear to confirm the alleged sexual assault.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage from Kuki-Zo organizations, which have sharply criticized local security agencies for failing to apprehend those responsible. There have been growing demands for central government intervention, with the Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee of Pherzawl and Jiribam calling for urgent protection for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum has issued warnings of potential unrest if justice is not swiftly pursued.
This brutal attack is another dark chapter in the ongoing violence that has plagued Manipur since May, with increasing attacks against women and a deepening ethnic conflict between hill and valley communities. The violence has led to widespread displacement, with hundreds of families now residing in shelters across Jiribam and other affected areas, while the unrest continues to exacerbate divisions within the state. In an effort to transport the woman’s remains, police moved her body to Silchar due to logistical challenges caused by the ongoing turmoil along NH-37, instead of sending it to Imphal.
