Kohima police have strongly warned against the circulation of fake news, unverified claims, and speculative content relating to the ongoing investigation into the gruesome murder of a 22-year-old female athlete, Vihozhonu Zao, which occurred on October 24, 2025.
In a statement, Kohima police stated that a disturbing rise in misinformation and baseless narratives surrounding the case had been observed across various social media platforms.
Describing the trend as “unacceptable”, the police reminded that creation, dissemination, or amplification of unverified, speculative, or fabricated content concerning the case constituted a serious offense under national laws. Police stated that such actions violated provisions of the Information Technology Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, particularly those dealing with defamation, public mischief, incitement of hatred, and obstruction of lawful investigation.
Kohima police have cautioned that legal consequences for such violations would be severe, including immediate arrest, criminal prosecution, and imprisonment.
Therefore, police have warned the public against engaging in the following prohibited activities: sharing unverified or unsubstantiated information; spreading baseless theories about the motives, suspects, or circumstances of the murder; naming, accusing, or defaming individuals not officially identified as suspects by investigating authorities; inciting communal or ethnic hatred by linking the crime to any particular group or community without official evidence.
Emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to misinformation, Kohima police asserted that digital space would not be allowed to become a breeding ground for speculation and malice surrounding a serious criminal investigation.
Seeking public cooperation, Kohima police urged citizens to “verify” before they share and to cross-check all information with official sources before circulating it further. It also encouraged the public to report any fake news or malicious posts encountered online.
Further, appealing for empathy and sensitivity, the police reminded social media users to respect the privacy and dignity of the victim’s family, which continued to mourn the loss of their loved one.
It cautioned that irresponsible sharing of false content not only compounded the family’s trauma but also hinders the course of justice.
Kohima police reiterated that the path to justice for Vihozhonu Zao required truth and integrity, not speculation and malice, and described the advisory as a final notice against the spread of misinformation.
Porütso Khel questions use of ‘Zao’ surname by murder accused
DIMAPUR, NOV 6 (NPN): Porütso Khel of Jakhama has issued a clarification on the use of ‘Zao’ surname by Samuel Zao- the prime suspect in the murder of the 22-year-old female on October 24.
In a statement, Porütso Khel chairman Vizade Zao and adviser Khulvi Lothü, stated that it was undeniable that the suspect was under the ‘umbrella’ of late Hoto Zao family, but noted that there was no document such as ST or Indigenous certificate to support his use of ‘Zao’ surname.
They also said the murder suspect also had no other document to support his claim in using the ‘Zao’ surname except an Aadhar card which could be obtained without consent of the family.
Further, they said the Porütso Khel was ignorant about how the suspect was adopted whether traditionally or court procedure.
However, since he had made no contribution to the Khel, they have totally refuted that he was a member of either the khel or Jakhama village. Therefore, they declared that the use of the Zao surname by Samuel should be “done away with in all process of documentation.