Kohima: The District Legal Services Authority in Kiphire successfully rescued a man suffering from a mental health condition in Longbeakru village following a viral social media video. The footage, which surfaced on June 9, showed the individual confined inside a rudimentary wooden cell. The family explained that they took this measure because no professional mental health support exists in their remote area.
Acting under the NALSA Scheme, 2024, the DLSA coordinated with local police, the district administration, and hospital staff to facilitate a safe transfer. On June 15, the man was moved to the State Mental Health Institute in Kohima, where he is now undergoing a professional assessment. His family accompanied him to ensure consistent support throughout the medical process.
The DLSA highlighted that this incident reflects a broader crisis in Nagaland, where the state operates only one facility for specialized mental health services. Officials noted that funding constraints and a lack of trained personnel continue to limit access to care. The organization explicitly stated that the situation points to a pattern of "undertreatment and mistreatment of persons with mental illness in the state" caused by sparse rural services and poor public awareness.
Kiphire officials are now urging government stakeholders to expand mental health infrastructure and invest in community-level health worker training. They stressed that robust public education is essential to prevent families in isolated regions from being forced into desperate measures when faced with treatable medical conditions.
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