'Completely charred': Autopsy fails to collect samples to prove claim of Hmar woman's rape in Manipur

Guwahati: The doctors at Assam's Silchar Medical College and and Hospital (SMCH) could not collect samples from the body of Hmar woman killed in Manipur on November 7 to prove her husband's claim of rape as the body parts were "completely charred and not recognizable."

"Vaginal smear for microscopy to detect the presence of spermatozoa or gonococci could not be taken as the body parts were completely charred and not recognizable. Visceras for chemical analysis could not be collected as most were charred and unrecognizable or missing," said the report of the post-mortem conducted at the department of forensic medicines at SMCH.

Burnt remains of the 31-year-old teacher and a mother of three children belonging to the Hmar community were recovered from her house in Jiribam district, which were allegedly set on fire by members of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei armed group. Hours after the incident, her husband lodged an FIR claiming that the Arambai Tenggol members raped her, shot at her before burning her alive.

The SP, Jiribam sent the mortal remains to SMCH stating that a forensic medicine facility was lacking in Jiribam and it was not safe to carry the body to Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley due to the conflict. Hmars are ethnically linked to the greater Kuki-Zo community.

Metallic nail

The autopsy report said a metallic nail, measuring five centimeters long, was found embedded over the medial aspect of her left thigh. "Penetrating wound of size 1cmX0.75cm was seen over the back of right thigh, 17cm below the level of the anterior superior iliac, sen penetrating through the muscle, soft tissue connective tissues, coming out through an opening measuring 2cmx1cm in the right upper thigh interiority and medially, it said. This led the Kuki-Zo organisations to claim that she was assaulted by the attackers.

Several Kuki-Zo organisations launched a protest against the killing of the woman but the next day a woman belonging to the Meitei community was gunned down allegedly by Kuki armed persons.

Amid the protests on Monday, at least 10 "armed militants" belonging to the Hmar community were killed by the CRPF and the state police in Jiribam. Police claimed that they were killed in "retaliatory firing" after they allegedly attacked a CRPF camp and the Borobekra police station, where internally displaced persons (belonging to Meitei community) were provided shelters.

Police said they had set fire on some houses and shops before the attack. Police said several sophisticated weapons such as AK series, INSAS rifles and rocket propelled grenades were recovered from them. "Two weapons were found to be looted from police armoury," said a police statement.

Police said two burnt bodies (Meitei) were found while six others remained missing.

Some Meitei organisations claimed that the six, including women and children, were abducted by the Kuki-Zo insurgents. The six have still remained missing. Several Meitei organisations organised a candle light protest in the Imphal Valley on Wednesday seeking immediate release of the six.