Kohima Police register case against alleged molester; shops ransacked
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 25
Following the alleged molestation of a woman in Kohima on the night of August 24, a group of people ransacked two shops, reportedly run by the accused in Kohima Town. Several commercial sites quickly closed down for the day after the mob ransacked the shops and burned the goods in it. The situation was brought under control after the Angami Youth Organisation and Angami Students’ Union intervened.
Prior to today’s unrest, a woman, hailing from Chiechama village, was allegedly molested in Kohima Town on August 24 in the evening around 6:00pm.
The accused, identified as one Shahin Ahmed allegedly followed the victim from New NST area till Oking Hospital, and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim was able to call her elder sister, who rushed to the spot along with others to nab the accused. The assault was witnessed by some people near Oking Hospital who intervened, following which the accused fled. The accused was later nabbed below APO Building and handed over to the police.
The Kohima Police PRO informed that a case with regard to the alleged molestation has been registered and that investigations are ongoing. Police informed that 4 to 5 unidentified persons were behind the ransacking of the shops and the burning of the goods.
While the alleged molestation is being investigated, a case on the ransacking and the subsequent burning of goods has also been registered and will be investigated, the PRO informed. Accordingly, action will be taken he stated, and maintained that the ransacking amounted to “taking law into their own hands”.
AYO takes stern stand
Meanwhile, the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) condemned the alleged molestation incident. It further stated that: “In the fall out of the incident that occurred the following day in Kohima town, wherein a group of sympathizers had vandalized the shop/properties of Shahin Ahmed, the AYO owned the moral responsibility for the incident since the acts were perpetrated under its jurisdiction.”
A press note from the AYO however stated that “in the context and the intended degree of the crime, the act carried out by the youth is deemed befitting.”
The AYO further informed that it has “directed” the family of the accused to “leave Kohima immediately as per the customary tradition of the land, failing which the same case of penalty be awarded.” It further cautioned of “stern action against any individual /community applying bail for the culprit.”
