The Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) has expressed deep outrage over the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile Naga girl by a non-local man identified as Ali Mortuja, son of Abdul Latif, a resident of Badarpur in Karimganj district, Assam. Mortuja is reportedly operating a business in New Market, Dimapur.
In a press release issued Monday, DAYO condemned the incident as a “heinous crime” and described it as a violation not just of the victim but of the values and ethos of Naga society. “Such beastly acts are alien to our culture,” the organisation stated, calling the assault “utterly despicable and condemnable.”
Calling attention to what it sees as a disturbing rise in crimes against local citizens by outsiders, DAYO warned that the incident reflects a growing disrespect for the laws and cultural fabric of the region by “non-local elements of doubtful origin.” The organisation further questioned how such individuals continue to reside and operate businesses in Dimapur despite the provisions of the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
“This audacity and brazenness to commit crimes against our Naga people was unheard of in earlier times but has now become disturbingly frequent,” DAYO noted.
The youth organisation has urged civil societies, community bodies, and the district administration to come together to devise concrete mechanisms to protect vulnerable children and uphold public safety. It demanded that the authorities deal with such crimes with “an iron hand” and show “no leniency” to the perpetrators.
In a direct appeal to the state government, DAYO called for stringent implementation and active monitoring of the ILP system, warning that its misuse and the unchecked settlement of non-permit holders have become “breeding grounds for criminal activities” and pose a “threat to national interest.”
Expressing solidarity with the victim and her family, DAYO said, “She is not just a victim — she is our own minor daughter and our own sister.” The organisation extended prayers for her physical and emotional recovery and pledged full support in the family’s pursuit of justice.
The press release has once again reignited public concerns over rising crime rates against women in Nagaland and the administration’s capacity to regulate migration and enforce protective laws like the ILP.
