Raped, burnt alive, shot dead: Women continuously targeted in Manipur's Meitei-Kuki conflict
Imphal: Violence in conflict-ridden Manipur has escalated once again with the killing of two women—one from the Hmar community and the other from the Meitei community—within 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. These incidents have once again highlighted the ongoing atrocities against women, who have increasingly become targets of attacks and counter-attacks in the Meitei-Kuki conflict that has plagued the region since last year.
A 31-year-old school teacher and mother of three children belonging to the Hmar community was allegedly targeted by Meitei armed men in ethnic strife-torn Jiribam district. The FIR registered by the woman's husband, who managed to flee along with the children, alleged that she was caught by the armed members of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei radical group, raped and set on fire on Friday night. Her charred body was recovered from the burnt houses hours later. Hmars are ethnically linked to the Kukis.
Hours later, a 27-year-old Meitei woman farmer, Ongbi Sofia Devi was murdered by suspected Kuki insurgents while she was harvesting paddy in her field in the Saiton area in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district on Saturday morning.
Eyewitnesses told police that Kuki insurgents fired from a nearby hill targeting the woman and killing her on the spot, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday. According to security forces, this reportedly could be a "revenge attack" and a "counter" to the Jiribam incident.
Protests were held by both communities calling for action against those responsible for the killings. Two women’s organisation leaders, one from the Meitei community and one from the Kuki community, told the publication that these incidents are not isolated, emphasising that women, bearing the brunt of the violence, have been targeted since the conflict erupted in May last year.
Ngaineikim, president of Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights told DH that Meiteis have been carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo communities, adding that women have been raped, paraded naked in public and even set on fire in the most barbaric way. She alleged that no strict action has been taken against the perpetrators.
She suggested another possible reason, noting that women enjoy the highest honour in their tribal society, and the radical Meitei armed groups are repeatedly targeting them to demonstrate their power.
Meanwhile, Lourembam Ngangbi, president of the All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup, a Meitei women's organisation, emphasised that women and children should never be targeted in conflict, but the Kukis are not sparing them, possibly acting under the influence of drugs.
According to government records, nearly 250 people from both communities have died, and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
