Thousands rally in Kohima seeking speedy justice in sexual harassment cases

Thousands of protesters marched in Kohima demanding speedy justice in sexual harassment and rape cases. The rally highlighted delays in cases involving suspended IAS officer Reny Wilfred and other crimes against women and children, calling for timely trials and accountability

Kohima: Thousands of women, along with men, representatives of youth organisations and members of non-Naga communities, braved heavy rain on Friday to stage a rally in Nagaland’s capital Kohima, demanding an end to prolonged delays in sexual harassment cases and seeking speedy justice for survivors.

Organised by the Tribal Women Bodies of Kohima (TWBK), the protesters assembled at the Old MLA Hostel Junction and marched to Lok Bhavan, where they submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.

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The protest centred on delays in proceedings in a sexual harassment case involving suspended IAS officer Reny Wilfred, pending since 2021, as well as recent cases of rape and sexual violence in the state.

Carrying placards with slogans such as ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’, ‘Sexual harassers belong behind bars, not behind desks’ and ‘Your influence cannot silence the truth’, the demonstrators alleged that repeated legal manoeuvres had delayed trial proceedings and denied justice to survivors.

Addressing the gathering, Angami Women Organisation president and Rally Organising Committee convenor Neithono R Sothu said the rain symbolised “showers of blessing” in the collective fight for justice and asserted that women would remain united until survivors received justice and perpetrators were held accountable.

The rally drew support from several civil society organisations, tribal bodies, student groups and youth organisations, including the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), the Naga Students’ Federation, Kohima Ao Telongjem, Angami Youth Organisation, Kohima Lotha Hoho, and representatives of Khiamniungan and Yimkhiung organisations.

In the memorandum, the TWBK expressed concern over what it termed persistent attempts to delay proceedings in the sexual harassment case involving Wilfred, alleging that repeated adjournments undermine public confidence in the justice delivery system and embolden offenders.

The memorandum stated that the accused allegedly molested two minor girls while serving as deputy commissioner of Noklak, leading to the registration of a police case under sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

It noted that despite the POCSO Act mandating speedy disposal of such cases, the trial remains unresolved nearly five years after the case was registered.

The women’s bodies also referred to another FIR lodged on April 2, 2025, alleging sexual harassment of women employees while the accused was serving as joint secretary of IDAN.

They claimed that several contractual employees who filed complaints had since lost their jobs, while the accused continued to pursue multiple legal remedies, resulting in repeated delays in trial proceedings.

According to the memorandum, the accused unsuccessfully challenged the FIR before the Gauhati High Court and later the Supreme Court. It alleged that a subsequent criminal revision petition filed before the high court led to the postponement of the recording of evidence, originally scheduled for June 9 and later deferred to July 14.

The protesting organisations submitted a three-point charter of demands, seeking no further delays in the proceedings and completion of the trial in a fair, impartial and time-bound manner, continuation of the accused’s suspension pending final adjudication, and permanent disqualification from government service and public office in Nagaland if convicted.

Expressing concern over rising crimes against women and children, the memorandum cited recent cases, including the alleged repeated rape of a minor in Dimapur, sexual harassment of a minor by a church leader in Kohima, the alleged rape of an elderly woman in Kiphire by a law enforcement personnel, and the alleged rape of a minor by a truck driver.

Condemning such incidents, the women’s bodies demanded exemplary punishment for offenders and speedy disposal of all pending cases, warning that prolonged delays in trials contribute to a growing sense of impunity.

“The prompt and impartial administration of justice is indispensable to safeguarding the dignity and security of women and children and restoring public confidence in the rule of law,” the memorandum stated, urging the judiciary to ensure the early delivery of justice.