An 80-year-old woman, wife of a freedom fighter, was burnt alive in her home on May 28 during the ethnic clashes in Manipur, said reports. The woman, identified as Sorokhaibam Ibetombi, was locked inside her home before being set ablaze by an armed group, reported NDTV quoting a FIR filed with Serou police station. The incident happened in Kakching district's Serou village in Manipur which witnessed massive violence and exchange of gunfire.
Ibetombi was the wife of the deceased freedom fight S Churachand Singh, who was honoured by President APJ Abdul Kalam. The report comes days after the video showing two women being paraded naked went viral, triggering massive outrage.
The slain woman's grandson, 22-year-old Premkanta, told NDTV that the victim was locked inside the house by those who attacked her village. The house was then set on fire, killing the woman before her relatives could rescue her. "When we came under attack, my grandmother told us to run now and return for her after some time. 'Come back to get me,' she said as we left. Those were her last words, unfortunately," Premkanta told NDTV. He too had a narrow escape after bullets grazed his arm and thigh as he tried to save his grandmother.
He added that Ibetombi had stayed back due to mobility issues and the firings near their home made it dangerous to venture out for someone like her. Premkanta and other family members has since returned to their village but their house is just broken wood and metal.
Ibetombi's daughter-in-law, S Tampaksana, told NDTV that they took shelter at an MLA's house, where they reached with great difficulty amid the intense firing. "At 2.10 am, we fled as we were frightened and she (Ibetombi) insisted we run to safety first and send someone to rescue her later. We took shelter at our local MLA's house, frightened as the firing continued. Then we told our boys to go and rescue her at 5.30-6 am. By the time they went, the house was completely consumed by fire," Tampaksana said.
Reports added that old videos of burnt woman have resurfaced along with that of another woman whose body was found in a semi-burnt state. The victim Thiendam Vaiphei was a 45-year-old widow and mother of two.
Thiendam Vaiphei, was not only assaulted and had her throat slit but also suffered from burns on her legs, hands, and head. The harrowing incident came to light when a pastor, accompanied by the Gorkha Regiment and Andro police, went to retrieve her body on May 7, reported The Times of India.
