SP Kohima Krodi Rhetso and members of the Special Investigation Team address the media in Kohima on November 5 regarding the murder of a young woman on October 25. (Morung Photo)
Accused in Kohima Police custody; SIT pursuing additional leads
Morung Express News
Kohima | November 5
In a significant breakthrough in a case that shocked Nagaland and drew widespread grief and condemnation, Kohima Police today announced that it has “solved” what it termed the “gruesome murder” of a 22-year-old woman on October 25 with the arrest of the prime suspect.
Following an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on October 26, the accused, identified as Samuel Zao (31), was arrested on November 4.
The accused, reportedly the adoptive son of the victim’s aunt, has confessed to the crime and is currently in police custody, Kohima Police said during a press conference held here at the Superintendent of Police Office, Kohima.
Highlighting the chronology of events in the presence of the eight-member SIT, SP Kohima, Krodi Rhetso, noted that residents of Kohima “woke up to the horrifying news of the gruesome murder” of Vihozhonu Zao from Jakhama village, Kohima, on the morning of October 25.
Acting swiftly upon receiving the information, the duty party from South Police Station reached the scene to secure the area and begin preliminary investigation, he said. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Dimapur, also arrived at around 2:05 pm and conducted detailed forensic procedures, including photography, videography, and collection of physical evidence from the site, he added.
Rhetso further informed that a detection dog was deployed to examine the surrounding area for additional clues, while an inquest was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses. A post-mortem examination was later performed at Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima .
Following a written FIR lodged by the victim’s paternal uncle, a case was registered under Section 101/103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, dealing with the offense of murder at Kohima Women Police Station and the investigation was handed over to UBSI Hili Kath Metsie-o.
Given the sensitivity and complexity of the case, Rhetso noted that the eight-member SIT, headed by ASP Kohima Soriso, was constituted to ensure a coordinated investigation.
A ‘blind case’
According to the SP, the case presented extraordinary challenges as it was essentially a “blind case.” The initial investigation also identified the crime scene as a “secondary place of occurrence,” making it difficult for the team to establish a clear theory, motive, or sequence of events.
Despite these hurdles, Rhetso lauded the SIT for carrying out a “painstaking and meticulous investigation,” piecing together crucial leads and eventually zeroing in on a prime suspect after sustained efforts.
During interrogation, the accused, a resident of Old Ministers’ Hill, Kohima, confessed his crime. He reportedly claimed that he lost his temper after the victim did not respond to his request to make tea while she was using her phone. Consequently, he allegedly hit her with firewood, causing fatal injuries.
The suspect then attempted to conceal evidence by covering the body, switching off her phone, breaking the handset, and disposing of parts of it in a dumping truck. The mop used to clean the blood stains was also allegedly discarded in a nearby drain, and the body was later dumped near a ring well in the basement, the police added.
When questioned about the possible involvement of accomplices or other factors, SIT head and ASP Kohima, Soriso said the investigation is ongoing and the team is “examining all details, which will be communicated at a later stage.”
At the current stage, no other motive or involvement of additional individuals has been established. Forensic reports are still pending, and further information will be available once the laboratory findings are received, he added.
When asked whether there were any signs of sexual molestation, SP Rhetso clarified that no such evidence has been found at the current stage of the investigation.
The Kohima Police also expressed gratitude to the public for their patience, cooperation, and trust during the investigation, which allowed the team to work professionally and without external interference, ensuring a fair and thorough enquiry.
The SP further claimed that the resolution of the ‘completely blind case’ stands as a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and professionalism of Kohima Police in particular, and Nagaland Police in general.
