April 7 murder case: Phase-II agitation begins in Peren

Zeliangrong Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) and Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN) on Tuesday jointly launched phase-II agitation in the form of indefinite bandh across Peren district starting August 19, 2025 in protest against government inaction for nearly five months over the alleged rape and murder of a woman, whose body was found in a forest near Pimla village under Chümoukedima district on April 7, 2025.
As part of the agitation, all administrative and government offices in Peren district remained shut, while movement of government vehicles was banned.
The volunteers also prohibited movement along National Highway-129A passing through Peren district and Manipur-bound commercial trucks and interstate night super buses were barred from entering or plying within Peren district.
Speaking at a short programme, ZYON president, R. John Zeliang, expressed gratitude to various Naga communities for extending their support.
He alleged that despite repeated appeals since April 7, the government had failed to deliver justice in Pimla case. “The government of the day seems to be one of the weakest we have ever experienced,” he remarked.
John maintained that women’s safety in Nagaland was increasingly at risk. “After sunset, women are afraid to step out of their homes, even to the market. This decline is the result of the government’s failure to ensure their safety,” he stated.
ZYON president stressed that the phase-II agitation would continue indefinitely until justice was delivered.
He said that the only demand of organizations was the immediate release of the forensic report.
John clarified that they were not concerned about whether the prime accused was re-arrested. However, he insisted that the forensic findings must be made public. “Until this is fulfilled, we will not hold discussions with government agencies,” he asserted and warned that anyone violating the highway blockade would face “direct action.”
Meanwhile, Western Naga Youth Front (WNYF) interim president, Aga Rengma, who was present with representatives of WNYF-affiliated units, said their participation was to extend solidarity. He pointed out that without eyewitnesses or an official confession, forensic evidence was the only option to implicate the accused. However, with the forensic report yet to be released, he said the prime accused had been granted bail.
Rengma blamed the absence of a forensic laboratory in Nagaland for prolonged delay in getting justice.
He said that while the state government invested heavily in festivals and infrastructure, it had failed to prioritize basic facilities such as a forensic lab and adequate women police stations, with only one currently existing in Dimapur.