A trans makeup artist in Manipur was brutally beaten for posting a Hindi reel during Diwali, accused by militants of “promoting Mayang culture.”
By PC Bureau
November 2, 2025: In a chilling reminder of how fear and intolerance have taken root in Manipur’s fractured society, a Nupi-Sabi (trans woman) make-up artist, Konjengbam Malemnganba, was abducted along with her friends and brutally flogged by a group of men, reportedly belonging to militant group. Their Her “crime”: making a short inspired by Bollywood’s Devdas, wearing a saree to celebrate Diwali, and speaking in Hindi—a language the militants have long declared “banned” in parts of the valley.
The disturbing video that surfaced on social media shows a terrified Malemnganba and others being beaten with bamboo sticks, surrounded by men shouting abuses and accusing them of promoting “Mayang culture” — a term used locally to describe mainland Indian or non-Meitei influences. The attackers accused the group of desecrating Manipuri culture by mimicking Paro and Chandramukhi, characters from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1917 Bengali novel Devdas.
“Will you do this again?” one of the men yells in the video.
Through sobs, a woman pleads, “No, I won’t make such videos again.”
The stick lands again. The screams echo, heart-rending and helpless.
The video, now widely circulated, has triggered outrage among human rights activists but also fear among Manipuri artists who have long been caught between militant diktats and cultural expression.
🚨HINDUPHOBIA ALERT🚨
A renowned Nupi-Sabi (Trans-woman) make up artist in Manipur, Konjengbam Malemnganba was abducted & brutally flogged along with others by Meitei Terrorists for making reels in Hindi songs & emulating Bollywood aesthetics, while dressed in a Saree to… pic.twitter.com/IznMZIjDUB
— J Shakur (@JShakurB) November 2, 2025
A Cry from Within
In a post written before her assault, Konjengbam explained her intent — not to offend, but to celebrate creativity.
“Nowadays, many take up female roles in Shumang Leela seriously, spending time in salons, dressing up, and acting with sincerity. I wanted to see if I could portray emotions truthfully — whether as a woman or a man,” she wrote. “The reel went viral, and some said I was distorting culture. But my aim was only to highlight Manipuri talent. If anyone was hurt, I sincerely apologize.”
Her post reads like a premonition — an artist’s voice trying to reason with intolerance before violence drowned it out.
The Victim
Konjengbam is a remarkably creative Shumang Leela performer whose contributions to the art form are widely celebrated. She runs her own beauty parlour in Imphal, providing employment and support for many trans women and others from marginalized communities. Malemnganba has been making Bollywood-themed video reels for some time. However, the ones she was targeted for were those she made during Diwali
READ: Manipur Audio Tape: Six Reasons Why It Should Be Sent to a Foreign Lab
The Shadow of a Ban
The incident comes against the backdrop of a cultural clampdown in Manipur, where Hindi films, songs, and even signboards have been banned in many parts of the Imphal Valley for over two decades. Several Meitei extremist groups have long considered the Hindi language and Bollywood influence as symbols of “cultural invasion” from mainland India.
In recent years, the ban has resurfaced with renewed force amid the ongoing ethnic conflict, leaving local performers, trans artists, and digital creators in constant fear of reprisal.
In recent years, that intolerance has extended to social media, where Manipuri youth experimenting with dance reels or Hindi film aesthetics are regularly trolled or threatened. Malemnganba’s ordeal, say rights activists, is part of this broader suppression — a brutal reminder that art and identity remain under siege in Manipur.
As of now, no arrests have been made.
“Hindi or Meitei, man or woman, trans or cis — this isn’t about language or identity anymore,” said a civil society member. “It’s about whether people can still breathe freely in Manipur.”
