Flags damaging public narratives and victim-blaming, urges public and media to remain allies in the pursuit of truth and justice
The Jangpetkong Kaketshir Telungjem Mungdang (JKTM) has strongly condemned the recent incident of alleged rape committed against a student on September 30, 2025, at Mokokchung Town. In a statement, the organization described the crime, allegedly perpetrated by Sumon Subba (27), as “an affront to the values and morals of our community, and it demands the severest condemnation.”
The JKTM expressed full solidarity with the survivor and urged authorities to act “swiftly and decisively” to ensure that the accused is brought to justice without delay.
“Survivors of sexual violence must be supported with compassion, protection, and access to all necessary legal and psychological services,” it stated. The JKTM also emphasized that rape is “not only a personal trauma but a societal failure when silence or inaction helps perpetuate rape culture,” calling on the administration, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and citizens to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to such crimes.
The organization further warned that it would “not remain silent spectators to injustice” and would take every necessary step if the authorities fail to act decisively.
Significantly, the JKTM expressed concern over how public conversations in the aftermath of the incident have “drifted toward irrelevant details about the survivor’s life and her prior association with the perpetrator,” terming such discussions a form of victim-blaming.
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“To be unequivocally clear: The responsibility for sexual assault lies solely with the perpetrator. A prior friendship, a conversation, or any other circumstance does not constitute consent,” it stated, underscoring that consent must be “explicit, ongoing, and voluntary.”
JKTM further expressed concern over media and public handling of the case: “The user’s choice to highlight the survivor’s personal history over the acts of the criminal act shapes public perception in a way that can re-traumatize the survivor and excuse the perpetrator’s accountability.
We urge everyone to focus on the crime, the legal processes, and the societal context of sexual violence rather than the peripheral details that could be weaponized to undermine the victim’s credibility and shift focus from the perpetrator’s actions.”
JKTM made an appeal to the media, describing it as “the fourth pillar of democracy and the custodians of truth”, urging journalists to “continue to stand as allies in advocating for truth and justice, simultaneously using their platform to ensure the public’s focus is not diverted by the peripheral details.”
“This moment is a critical juncture for our community. Let us stand together in solidarity with the survivor, firm in our commitment to a culture where safety, respect, and unequivocal consent are the inviolable standards we uphold for all,” the statement added.
The statement was signed by Imomanen Tzüdir, President, and Imlirenba, General Secretary of JKTM.
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Additionally, the Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU) in a statement has also expressed shock and deep anguish over the reported alleged rape of a “young Gorkha woman in Mokokchung” on September 30, 2025, strongly condemning what it described as a “brutal and inhuman act which strikes at the dignity and safety of women and wounds the conscience of our entire society.”
While acknowledging the pain caused to the wider Mokokchung community, the Union stressed that “the victim must never be blamed or stigmatised. The onus is on the perpetrators – not on the survivor.” It expressed full solidarity with the victim and her family, calling for their “safety, care, and privacy to be protected at all times.”
The DGU demanded that “the competent authorities carry out a swift, transparent and thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted under the full rigour of the law.” It also urged the administration to provide medical, legal and psychosocial support to the survivor and her family, and appealed to the community to “respond with compassion rather than condemnation.”
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Reaffirming its stand, the Union stated that it remains committed to upholding the rights and dignity of women, preserving the honour of all communities, and working with civil society and law enforcement to prevent such crimes in the future.
