Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, was recognized as one of India’s safest cities for women according to the National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about women’s safety in Kohima.
Vihozhonu Zao, a 22-year-old basketball player, was brutally murdered and her body was found near her residence at Old Ministers’ Hill Colony in Kohima on October 25. Other incidents include a local women’s rights activist receiving a death threat on social media and another woman being attacked and having her bag snatched after being struck on the head with a stick while walking home alone.
These incidents have left many feeling uneasy and questioning the city’s safety. The murder of Vihozhonu Zao, the most recent incident, has sparked widespread condemnation from local organizations and citizens, with expressions of shock, outrage and sadness. Candlelight vigils have been held in honour of Zao.
The women of Kohima are speaking out about their growing concerns for safety in the city. “We’re scared to walk in public spaces,” said a local woman in Kohima while interacting with this writer.
“The confidence and audacity of perpetrators to commit such crimes in the heart of the town indicates a breakdown of law and order. We’ve never felt so angry and scared.”
Another woman from the city echoed these sentiments, saying, “Crime has been on the rise lately in our society. We keep hearing distressing stories almost every other day about women being murdered, assaulted, or harassed. The recent case was yet another brutal reminder of the safety concerns we face. The position and safety of women today are no longer what they once were; we simply don’t feel secure anymore.”
These feelings of fear and insecurity are not limited to one or two individuals. As one woman put it, “I’m just shocked like everyone else,” shared another. “I’ve never feared for my safety like I do these days. I used to go for a run late at night and still feel safe, but not anymore.”
The impact of these crimes goes beyond the individual, affecting entire families and communities. “The crime is not only against a woman but against our household and community,” said another woman from the area. “When our daughters or mothers are murdered, the whole family suffers together.”
Women are calling for swift and decisive action to address these concerns and ensure Kohima remains safe for everyone. “We only hope and pray that the culprits are caught,” said one woman.
The police has assured the public that they are doing everything possible to catch the perpetrators.
~ Max Marius Menuse-O
