Nagaland: IAS Officer Booked for Sexual Harassment; Police Set Up SIT

Acting on the recommendation by the Commission, the police registered an FIR on April 2, at South Kohima Police Station.

The Nagaland Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior IPS officer to investigate serious allegations of sexual and mental harassment against an IAS officer in Kohima.

A Nagaland Police statement said, the action follows a written complaint submitted by Nginyeiil Konyak, Chairperson of the Nagaland State Women Commission (NSCW), to the Director General of Police (DGP) on March 17. The complaint stated that Abu Metha, Chairman of the Task Force for Music and Arts, had verbally informed the NSCW on February 27, about sexual and mental harassment faced by some female employees of IDAN, allegedly at the hands of the IAS officer.

Commission promptly recorded the statements of the victims on March 5. The Commission also received an official forwarding letter on March 3, from the IDAN Chairman enclosing a complaint letter from IDAN employees and supporting documents.

Following the receipt of the complaint, the Police Headquarters ordered a Preliminary Enquiry on March 25. A lady officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police conducted the enquiry and submitted her report on April 1. Acting on the recommendation by the Commission, the police registered an FIR on April 2, at South Kohima Police Station.

The PHQ, constituted a Special Investigation Team comprising four additional officers to assist in the probe. The FIR and supporting documents have also been forwarded to the Court, the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, and the Nagaland State Women Commission.

This is not the first time the IAS officer has faced such serious charges. He is already under trial in a separate molestation case involving two underage girls who worked as domestic help at his official residence in Noklak.

Following a detailed investigation, the police filed a chargesheet on December 2, 2021, in the Court of the Special Judge (POCSO Act) in Tuensang. The court took cognizance of the charges and began trial proceedings. According to sources, 34 out of 50 prosecution witnesses have already deposed in court.

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