Brutal Rape and Murder of a Six-Year-Old Keeps Manipur on the Edge

The brutal rape and torture of a six-year-old girl Lanliu (name changed) is being termed by civil society as the most heinous crime in Manipur.

The incident took place in Chinikon village in the Senapati district on 15 February. After battling for 13 days at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lanliu breathed her last on 29 February.

I was beaten, slapped and strangulated. Then I was raped from the front and back. After raping me twice, he inserted pointed sticks inside me. He threatened to kill me if I don’t say that Dondibung did this to me.

Last recorded statement of Lanliu at the hospital

Soon after making this statement she succumbed to the multiple injuries and ruptures in her private parts including the intestine, urinary tract and the internal vaginal area caused by the insertion of a hard object.

The accused has been lodged at the Juvenile Correction Home as he claimed to be 14 years old.

The Joint Action Committee formed to pursue justice in the brutal rape case, however, claim the accused is an adult and his crime was premeditated.

We have proof that he is not a juvenile. The police version that he is 14 years old is based on a school certificate, given hurriedly by the school after the crime. The certificate is fake. We’ve a sworn affidavit by the mother of the accused that his date of birth is 1 March 1999. That makes him 17 years. That’s why we insist he be tried as an adult and not as a juvenile. The Juvenile Justice Act of 2016 says anyone 16 or above should be tried as an adult in such rape cases.

Panti Gonmei, JAC Convener

Meanwhile, the minority Christian families of the village allege that there has been a history of harassment and abuse against them. The victim’s family belonged to a newly converted group of Christians.

After a number of protest demonstrations, memorandums to the Chief Minister’s office, attempts to storm the in-session State Assembly, the Manipur government gave in to the demands of the JAC.

Following the assurance given by the Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, the JAC decided to suspend their agitation and claimed the body of baby Lanliu.

Her burial was held on 7 March at the Chinikon village.

Despite the Deputy CM’s assurance, the culprit has not been chargesheeted and is enjoying the comforts of a juvenile home somewhere in the state.

Panti Gonmei, JAC Convener

The JAC has given the police time till this month to file a chargesheet and fast track the trial. Failure to so would prompt them to agitate again, they warn.