Mere media condemnation is no longer sufficient, says DAYO after molestation incident
Calling the recent molestation of a Chakhesang woman in Dimapur “a grim reflection of the growing number of crimes against women in our society,” the Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the incident and demanded urgent institutional action.
According to the press release, the incident took place on June 15, 2025, when a Chakhesang lady was allegedly molested in a moving auto-rickshaw by one Adiraj Prasad alias Mughavi Zhimomi. The vehicle was reportedly driven by Nur Islam.
“We express our deep anguish and stand in full solidarity with the victim and the Chakhesang community during this time of trauma and pain,” DAYO stated. “We wish the survivor a swift recovery from the physical and psychological harm inflicted upon her by this inhuman and vile act.”
DAYO cautioned that the case “is not an isolated one, but a grim reflection of the growing number of crimes against women.” The youth body argued that “mere media condemnation is no longer sufficient” and called upon civil society organisations, tribal bodies, and government agencies to urgently “formulate effective mechanisms, regulations, and enforcement systems to check this worsening menace.”
Questions over tribal identity misuse
In a significant allegation, DAYO said that the accused is “not a Naga by origin” but has “deceptively adopted a tribal identity using his mother’s surname,” a practice the organisation said is illegal under Naga customary law.
“Such unethical and unlawful identity manipulation must be stopped immediately, as it poses a direct threat to the sanctity of tribal identity and undermines the very spirit of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system,” it stated.
The youth organisation urged tribal hohos and traditional councils to “seriously address this alarming issue of identity abuse,” warning that if left unchecked, it would create “complications not only in the enforcement of ILP but also in preserving the indigenous rights of our people.”
Reiterates ILP cut-off year demand
DAYO also reiterated its long-standing demand that December 1, 1963 — the date of Nagaland’s statehood — must be upheld as the non-negotiable and irreversible cut-off year for ILP implementation. “Any attempt to manipulate or dilute this benchmark will be met with firm resistance from the people,” the statement read.
DAYO reaffirmed its commitment to justice, the safety of women, and the protection of indigenous identity. “We demand that the perpetrators of this heinous crime must be punished as per law of the land and justice be delivered at the earliest.”