People hold placards seeking justice during a protest-cum-solidarity rally organised by the Dimapur Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union at the Town Hall in Dimapur on June 9. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 9
The minor sexual abuse case in Dimapur took a new turn with allegation that a member of the prime accused’s family compromised the victim’s identity. More than two weeks since the case to light, and the subsequent arrest of three suspects, the Dimapur Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union (DENSU) upped the ante calling for the immediate arrest of the sister of prime accused Watimeren Jamir, alias O Wati Jamir, for allegedly circulating a video clipping that compromised the identity of the 14-year-old minor victim. The DENSU executives made the demand at a media briefing during a protest-cum-solidarity rally organised by the union at the Town Hall in Dimapur, on June 9.
According to the union, the recording and distribution of the undated footage violated the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. “In the POCSO Act, it is clearly written that the identity of the victim... must not be disclosed, and disclosing it is punishable according to the law,” said DENSU General Secretary Sheren Shiu. She demanded that the sibling be interrogated and arrested.
Shiu asserted that the arrests of the three accused do not signal the end of the union’s campaign. “The war is not over just because three have been arrested; it has just started,” she said.
DENSU Vice President I Chejing Chang supported this demand, stating that the victim’s name and face had been compromised. “Who did this, from whose phone was it done must also be arrested,” Chang said, adding that the responsible parties must receive punishment according to the law.
The union executives also highlighted the pressure they faced regarding the investigation. Both Chang and DENSU President Thongule Sangtam stated that the union maintained there were three individuals from the beginning, despite law enforcement agencies and certain civil society organisations claiming there were only two.
“No matter what, our stand was on only one thing: there are three culprits, and now it is proven,” Sangtam said. The third arrested individual is a 68-year-old gaonbura (village headman) of the Residency (PWD) colony, whom Sangtam said is supposed to be the guardian figure. Sangtam questioned whether the Dimapur Sadar GB union has initiated any action against him following his arrest.
The union reiterated its demand for a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) directly monitored by the Director General of Police (DGP) rather than a district-level team. DENSU Speaker Yongyo said that the union has already submitted the necessary documents and a memorandum in this regard. “Our part of the job is done for now... and now it is their (the police’s) job to do what needs to be done,” Yongyo said.
The issue of keeping children, from marginalised families belonging to the ENPO bloc, as domestic help in exchange for education in Dimapur and other districts, also came up. Regarding this, Sangtam explained that the DENSU is working to tackle the practice. It advised the tribal bodies to ensure children are only placed with trusted relatives, and asked guardians to register with DENSU to enable physical verifications.
President Sangtam warned that if the state government fails to meet the demands outlined in their memorandum, the union will escalate its actions. “Next time we will return with double, triple, or quadruple the strength,” he concluded.
Resents sidelining
The DENSU executives further expressed resentment over allegedly being sidelined by the Nagaland NGOs Forum (NNF) and the Nagaland School’s Alliance (NSA) in an awareness programme that DENSU expected to spearhead. The programme was held at the Town Hall, on June 9.
According to the DENSU President, Sangtam, the union felt “betrayed” by the NNF and NSA after having planned the collaborative event in advance, noting that the community was questioning why DENSU’s leadership role was not reflected in the programme’s publicity materials.
