Kohima, November 2 (MExN): Civil society, student, and women’s organisations in Nagaland have continued to express shock and grief over the alleged killing of a 22-year-old basketball player at Old Ministers’ Hill, Kohima, on October 25.
There were demands for a swift and transparent investigation as more organisations expressed concern and called for urgent measures to address violence against women in the state. They further extended condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim and prayed that the Lord would grant them comfort, strength, and solace.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kohima Police is currently probing the death.
ASUD: The Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) strongly condemned the “appalling and inhumane” acts of violence and said it struck the very conscience of society.
It also expressed concern that such heinous crimes are now emerging in the state, long regarded as one of the safest places for women. Violence against women, which was once rare and almost foreign to the Naga context, is becoming alarmingly frequent, the ASUD held, noting that the growing trend is not only distressing but also signals a deeper moral and social decay that cannot be ignored.
Accordingly, it demanded swift and transparent justice and that perpetrator(s) must be identified and held accountable without delay. Stating that there must be no space for apathy or silence in the face of such barbarity, the ASUD also urged the authorities to ensure thorough investigations, provide every possible support to the victims and their families, and take immediate steps to prevent such crimes from recurring.
It further contended that incidents against women are not isolated but symptomatic of a larger shift in society’s moral fabric. The safety and dignity of women must be treated as a priority and not as an afterthought, the ASUD called for acting immediately to avoid risking normalisation of fear and insecurity in a place that once symbolised communal trust and safety. The union also reaffirmed its commitment to justice and to upholding the safety and dignity of all women in Nagaland.
CPO: The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) also denounced the death and stated that such a “horrific act has no place in a civilised society and deserves condemnation from all right-thinking citizens.”
It further appealed to the government and law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the culprit(s) involved are brought to justice at the earliest. Such an atrocious act must not go unpunished.
The CPO also called upon all citizens to assist law enforcement agencies in any way possible, to remain vigilant, and to uphold unity while the law takes its course.
CWSK: The Chakhesang Women Society Kohima (CWSK) stated that the “heinous crime” underscores the urgent need to confront the persistent issue of violence against women and girls in all its forms, as such brutality violates the very principles of humanity and justice.
Asserting that it stands united with all who demand justice, accountability, and lasting change in society, the CWSK called upon the SIT, State Government, and concerned authorities to ensure a thorough and uncompromising investigation so that those responsible are held fully accountable.
The recent rise in cases of violence against women is a matter of serious concern, as they are rooted in inequality and disregard for human life, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstance, it added. Further stressing that every woman must have the right to live in safety and dignity, free from fear, the CWSK called upon all sections of society to stand together in eliminating gender-based violence and uphold respect for human life and dignity.
NEN: The North East Network (NEN) described the incident as a gross violation of a woman's rights to a life of safety, dignity, and freedom. Violence against women in any form is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in society.
Such heinous crimes reflect the urgent need for stronger measures to ensure the safety of women and girls in public and private spaces, it stated. The NEN also urged the concerned authorities and law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift, transparent, and thorough investigation and thus provide justice.
NVA: The Nagaland Volleyball Association (NVA) expressed deep shock and sorrow over what it termed as a “gruesome, inhumane, and barbaric killing” and asserted that such acts have no place in a civilised society.
To this end, the NVA demanded that law enforcement agencies conduct a thorough investigation and deliver justice to the families and the affected community, especially the sports fraternity at large.
