The Kohima Village Students’ Union (KVSU) has released its official findings on the February 20, 2025 incident involving students of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School (DBHSS), Kohima, following an allegation of assault that has since led to public concern and a police complaint.
In a press note, KVSU president Khriesaneikuo Kire and general secretary Kiyakhrienuo Solo said that the statement was issued after it undertook a detailed fact-finding process, following the circulation of a letter by the father of the alleged victim addressed to the chairman Kohima Village Council (KVC) and KVSU.
KVSU said as a fact-finding body, agreed upon by all concerned parties, it conducted interviews with 19 eyewitnesses, including individuals directly involved in the incident as well as those present to witness. According to KVSU, significant inconsistencies were found between the account provided by the alleged victim’s father and those given by multiple eyewitnesses.
Giving the timelines, KVSU said that on March 29, the union visited the alleged victim at Oking Hospital after being informed of the incident. On March 30, KVSU said it interviewed a key witness, identified as the victim’s friend, in the presence of representatives from the Tesophenyu Group Students’ Union.
On March 31, KVSU said they met with two additional witnesses and on April 1, KVSU with permission from the school authorities visited DBHSS and conducted interviews with individuals who were direct witness to the incident and had relevant knowledge of the events surrounding it.
On April 2, KVSU said it called a meeting to present findings of the investigation and ensure all parties were informed of the actual facts.
However, the union said that despite the presence of some representatives, the meeting did not yield any meaningful progress as the alleged victim’s family refused to issue a statement to clarify the inconsistencies and also declined to allow KVSU and Tesophenyu Group Students’ Union to issue a joint statement declaring to be involved in the matter together, resulting in no resolution.
According to KVSU’s findings, the confrontation occurred on February 20, 2025, during the school break and later continued after school hours as a mutually agreed-upon fight outside the school premises. The alleged fight stemmed from a verbal altercation after one of the accused was found eating the alleged victim’s tiffin.
Multiple eyewitnesses confirmed the altercation was consensual, with rules agreed upon and referees designated. KVSU noted no evidence of bullying, coercion, or ambush.
KVSU said that the alleged victim was admitted to hospital only 33 days later, on March 25, after reportedly experiencing pain and distress. School records, however, indicated that he had attended school intermittently and participated in the school’s annual sports week on March 19, it said, as per confirmation provided by a friend of the alleged victim.
KVSU stated that their foremost concern throughout the process was the health and recovery of the allege victim. It said that the union had planned to release its findings only after the victim’s recovery and after obtaining a personal statement. However, with an FIR now filed by the alleged victim’s family and the case under police investigation, the union said it felt compelled to present its investigation findings.
KVSU clarified that it was unable to obtain a statement from the alleged victim or his family due to non-cooperation and their refusal to communicate with either the union or other concerned student bodies.
KVSU affirmed the union’s commitment to impartiality, stating that all findings were thoroughly documented. They appealed to the public to approach the matter with sensitivity and to avoid circulating unverified information that could jeopardize communal harmony or distort facts.