Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 28
A case related to objectionable Facebook remarks against a prominent Naga leader and the Ao community was brought to a close as per court proceedings on July 28, with the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, quashing the criminal case following an amicable settlement between the parties involved.
The matter arose from a complaint filed in November 2024 at the Cyber Crime Police Station, PHQ Nagaland, over a Facebook post published on the page ‘The Patriotic Naga’.
The post allegedly made defamatory statements against former Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. SC Jamir as well as maligning the modesty of Ao women in general, potentially threatening “inter-tribal co-existence.”
Subsequently, an FIR was registered on November 7 under Sections 352 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
During the investigation, the accused was arrested by Nagaland Police from New Delhi on November 30. On January 14, 2025, the accused was granted bail by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Kohima.
As per the court’s record, the accused, along with community leaders, thereafter initiated efforts to resolve the matter through the Ao Senden, the apex tribal body of the Ao community. In March 2025, after deliberations, the Ao Senden agreed to pardon the accused, subject to an undertaking and public apology.
A formal compromise deed was executed on May 30, 2025, between the accused and the original complainants, who included representatives of a community organisation.
In light of the settlement, a joint petition was filed under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023, seeking quashing of GR Case No. 157/2024 and the connected FIR.
Hearing the matter and noting the chain of events, Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer observed that continuing the trial would serve no purpose, as the parties had resolved the issue amicably.
The court also noted that although a chargesheet had already been filed, the complainants had expressed no objection to the quashing.
Accordingly, Justice Longkumer set aside the proceedings in GR Case No. 157/2024 pending before the JMFC Kohima and quashed the FIR registered as Cyber Crime PS Case No. 011/2024.
