A Meiti Women collective- Meira Paibis- literally translates to 'Women Torch Bearers’, took matters in their own hands after a 37-year-old rape survivor alleged that she was gangraped by a group of men while fleeing her burning house in Churachandpur, on May 3.
An FIR was lodged at Bishnupur women police station on August 9, before the matter got forwarded to Churachandpur police station for further investigation, said the police.
The Meiti Women collective staged protests against the incident across Keisampat, Uripok and Singjamei areas in Imphal West district and Kongba and Khurai in Imphal East district. Similar protests were held in Bishnupur, Kakching and Thoubal districts. "We vehemently condemn the gangrape of the woman by miscreants in Churachandpur. We demand the arrest of the culprits” said Th Sylvia, one of the protestors. "What happened in Imphal Valley on May 4 was retaliation to large-scale arson and burning in Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi on the previous day” added Chingakham Abemcha, another protestor on site. Meira Paibi’s President Longjam Memchaubi called for the protest, described as “against unspeakable crimes against women and men by armed militants and infiltrators from Myanmar.”
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A video reportedly showing two women from the Kuki community being paraded naked by men from the other side in Imphal Valley on May 4 had caused nationwide outrage. Ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3 has now continued for the last three months, killing more than 160 people and leaving thousands destitute.
