An unspeakable act

Dimapur was jolted by the deeply disturbing news of the sexual assault on a ten-year-old Naga girl in the heart of the city’s New Market area. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Ali Mortuja, son of Abdul Latif from Badarpur village in Assam’s Karimganj district, is accused of committing this horrific act in a space considered central to Dimapur’s daily life and commerce. Public knowledge of the incident came to light on July 6, following a statement released by the New Market Gaon Burah. While the exact date of the assault remains unclear, the shockwaves it sent across the community were immediate and intense. Civil society organizations swiftly responded, issuing strong condemnations and demanding justice. The legal framework under which the accused must be tried is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012- a legislation crafted to safeguard minors from sexual crimes. The Act classifies any person under 18 as a child and stipulates rigorous sentencing for offenses, especially when the victim is under 16 years. Convictions can result in a minimum sentence of 20 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment and fines. Moreover, aggravated sexual assault under POCSO-particularly when committed by individuals in positions of authority-carries harsher penalties that reflect the gravity of such breaches of trust. This case has not only spurred legal and moral outrage but has also reawakened concerns about Dimapur’s demographic shifts and associated socio-economic tensions. Ironically, on June 15, a non-local supposedly a minor under 18 was accused of sexual molestation on a Naga woman co-passenger. It was also claimed that the offender, a non-local had a Naga name. This also highlights the issue of random adoption in society. The memory of an earlier assault in the same market-allegedly involving a poultry vendor from the immigrant community-resurfaces in public discourse, suggesting deeper anxieties tied to long-standing migration patterns. Many point to the visible concentration of economic activities under migrant control in Dimapur and neighboring regions including Chümoukedima, Niuland, Peren, and Kohima. Migration, while contributing to economic diversity and labor supply, has also been fraught with issues of documentation and legitimacy. Reports dating back to 2009 estimate that Assam hosts over ten million suspected Bangladeshi-origin immigrants, many of whom have gradually moved into northeastern states. Local patronage systems, political interests, and loopholes in regulatory mechanisms, such as the acquisition of Inner Line Permits (ILPs), have allowed them to get melt within society through the flourishing networks managed by their community in various states. While it would be unjust to label all immigrants as potential offenders, law enforcement records have unfortunately pointed to a correlation between economic hardship and criminal activity in some segments. The concern remains that desperation and marginalization may drive vulnerable individuals into exploitative or criminal networks. This recent tragedy may well be indicative of deeper systemic failings, rather than an isolated incident. To ensure such heinous acts do not recur, there must be a collective reckoning-not just with the crime itself, but with the enabling socio-political environment. The time has come for stringent legal application, community vigilance, and transparent policy enforcement to restore the trust, dignity, and safety that the public of Dimapur rightfully deserve.