Four individuals, including the prime accused in the Pimla murder case, have been granted bail—a development that has raised serious concerns about Nagaland’s justice delivery system, particularly the role of forensic delays in obstructing investigations.
The Zeliangrong Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) and the Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN) expressed strong disappointment over the bail decision, calling it a major setback in the pursuit of justice. The two organisations, which have been closely following the case since the beginning, met with the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, on Tuesday to seek clarity on the situation.
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Speaking to the media after the meeting, ZYON president R. John Zeliang said, “We were shocked to learn about the bail order. We felt the need to meet the Commissioner in person and gather first-hand information.” According to Zeliang, the Public Prosecutor of the Deputy Commissioner’s Court confirmed the bail order, while the Commissioner himself was unaware of it until informed by the organisations.
Zeliang warned of consequences if justice continues to be delayed. “Who will be held responsible if something untoward happens? We can no longer take responsibility,” he said, adding that the organisations would consult their apex bodies and civil society stakeholders to decide the next course of action.
“Until justice is delivered, we will not back down. Further action is inevitable,” he said. He also cautioned that the Pimla case is not an isolated incident. “We are being pushed to revisit unresolved cases from even 13 or 5 years ago.”
Forensic delay again at the centre of concern
While the bail order itself has sparked outrage, both ZYON and ZSUN stressed that the bigger issue is the repeated delay in receiving forensic reports. “It’s not just about the bail,” Zeliang clarified. “It’s about the excuse that justice is being delayed because the DNA and forensic reports have not come.”
This is not a new concern. In 2024, the Nagaland Forensic Science Association (NFSA) had warned that the state was “grossly unprepared” for handling the rising caseloads under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates the presence of forensic experts at crime scenes in serious cases.
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As of September 2024, the state’s lone Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Dimapur reportedly had no scientific officers or technicians. Despite a 2018 government announcement to create nine new posts, no recruitments had taken place, forcing police to send samples to forensic labs in other states—a process that often takes five to six months.
Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung, Vesupra Kezo, had acknowledged this systemic issue earlier. “Police are mandated to submit chargesheets within 60 days, but FSL reports take five to six months,” he told Mokokchung Times in a previous interview.
‘A fight for all Nagas’
ZYON and ZSUN reiterated that the Pimla case reflects broader institutional failures that endanger the safety and dignity of women across Nagaland.
“This is not just for the Zeliangrong community. This is for all Nagas—for the safety and dignity of our women,” Zeliang said. “Nagaland is a Christian state, not a criminal state. Let’s unite and demand justice together and finish the fight.”
ZSUN president Adaube Hiekha Hau said the Commissioner of Police had assured them that he would seek an official explanation from the court regarding the bail order. The two organisations said they would await the court’s response before deciding on further steps.
However, they made it clear that the delay in forensic investigation and the release of the accused had left them disillusioned. “It feels like the authorities took advantage of our peaceful approach,” Zeliang remarked.
As civil society continues to demand accountability, the Pimla case has become a stark reminder of the urgent need to reform forensic and judicial infrastructure in Nagaland. Without these reforms, organisations warned, justice will remain elusive—and public trust in the system will continue to erode.
