Protest rally in Chiephobozou over alleged rape

•    Demand fast-track trial, no bail for accused;•    GPS and breathalyzer checks in public transportOur CorrespondentKohima | October 23The Nerhema Women Organization (NWO) and Nerhema frontal organisations on Friday staged a peaceful protest rally at Chiephobozou town in Kohima district against the alleged rape of a woman by a private taxi driver, demanding stringent action and a fast-track investigation.The rally was led by Neilatuonuo Riilho, President of Nerhe-Model Village Women Organisation, while the keynote address was delivered by NWO President Videnuo Tsürho. A memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Kohima, was read out by Khrienuo Semou.The organisations expressed dismay over the absence of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Chiephobozou, who was on leave, when they reached his office to submit the memorandum, and questioned his credibility in handling the case. The District administration from Kohima later intervened and the memorandum was submitted to Kohima ADC Ruopfukuotuo Noudi.Noudi tendered an apology on behalf of the district administration for the inconvenience caused and assured that the government would ensure action is taken against the alleged accused as per the relevant sections of law. Stating that the accused is presently under judicial custody, Noudi said, “We are taking the case very seriously. We will ensure that the law takes its own course.”In a joint memorandum, NWO and Nerhema Youth & Sports Organisation (NYSO), representing Nerhema and its allied villages, demanded immediate stringent action, a fast-track investigation and swift prosecution for speedy justice and the safety of women in public transport.According to the memorandum, on October 17 around 1:30 PM, a Nerhema woman travelling from Kohima to Chiephobozou by private taxi was allegedly kidnapped when the vehicle did not stop at its designated destination and was wrongfully confined after being locked inside. The driver allegedly diverted towards the Chiechama-Botsa route to drop a male co-passenger first, then forcefully proceeded towards Ciethu Road under Chiephobozou town on the pretext of dropping her, and sexually assaulted her against her will and consent.The accused has been identified as Ruokuotuolie Rüpreo, a private taxi driver and resident of Chiechama village. An FIR has been lodged at Chiephobozou Police Station.The organisations said “such an inhuman, cowardly and shameful act against a woman is an attack on the dignity of all women and cannot be tolerated in a civilised society,” adding that the act violates customary law, human rights and the safety of women using public transport.Citing Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the memorandum stated that any insertion of a finger into the vagina amounts to rape and not merely an attempt to rape. Describing the alleged act as rape, the organisations called it a barbaric violation of a woman's dignity, bodily integrity, safety and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, and a breach of public trust in the public transport system.“This incident has created fear, anguish and insecurity among women and girl students who travel daily for work and studies,” the organisations stated.They demanded that the accused be booked under stringent BNS provisions, including Sections 1-37(2) for kidnapping, 127(2) for wrongful confinement, and 64/65 for rape, with the offences made non-bailable and no bail granted. They called for a thorough, fair, time-bound and unbiased fast-track investigation, early charge-sheet filing and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law with exemplary punishment by a Fast-Track Court, asserting that no individual, group, organisation or authority should shield, harbour, influence or seek compromise on behalf of the accused.The organisations also demanded immediate psychological counselling, medical support and adequate compensation for the victim and her family under the Nagaland Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012 and the BNSS, and appealed for routine breathalyzer checks on public transport drivers and mandatory, strictly monitored GPS installation in all public transport vehicles.In compliance with Section 72 of the BNS and the Supreme Court's guidelines in Nipun Saxena v. Union of India, they appealed to the public, media and all concerned not to disclose or circulate the victim's name, address, photograph or identity in any medium, and to maintain peace and confidentiality.The organisations expressed total solidarity with the victim and her family, assuring full moral, legal and social support while upholding her confidentiality and dignity, and appreciated her courage in lodging an FIR despite mental and physical trauma. Warning that they would not remain silent spectators, they stated that if justice is delayed or denied, their organisations along with all frontal organisations of Nerhema Village would intensify democratic agitation, and appealed to civil society organisations, women organisations, student bodies and citizens of Nagaland to condemn the act and raise a collective voice for justice.Noting that Nagaland is regarded as one of the safest states for women, they demanded speedy justice and ensured safety and dignity for “our daughters.” The joint memorandum was signed by NWO president Videnuo Tsürho and NYSO president Kiyasetuo Kengurüse on behalf of the Nerhema frontal organisations.