Kohima: Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma says the public is finally breaking the silence on crime. Reporting is up. People are trusting the system more. Sharma spoke at a training session in Kohima on August 5, held at the PHQ Conference Hall. The event brought together functionaries from Sakhi-One Stop Centres, the police, and the District Legal Services Authority. The National Commission for Women, the Nagaland State Commission for Women, and the Social Welfare Department organized the meeting.
"What has started happening new in Nagaland is that these crimes are starting to get reported to the authorities," Sharma said. He noted that traditional customary mechanisms often kept crimes hidden. Now, those patterns are shifting. Sharma pointed out that women make up half the population. If they stay silent, the state loses half its vital information. He urged citizens to speak up and discuss gender-based violence freely.
The state needs more women in uniform. Currently, women make up less than 10 percent of the Nagaland Police force. Social Welfare Director Tosheli Zhimomi reported that One Stop Centres handled 311 cases during the 2025-2026 financial year. These cases include domestic violence, cybercrime, sexual assault, POCSO violations, and missing persons reports. Zhimomi noted that while coordination between the police and legal authorities is solid in most districts, it still requires improvement.
Nagaland State Commission for Women Chairperson W. Nginyeih Konyak pushed for an end to institutional isolation. She said survivors often bounce between departments without finding real help. The government hopes Mission Shakti, which oversees the One Stop Centres and the Women Helpline, will fix this fragmented approach. Currently, 17 districts host Sakhi-One Stop Centres. These include Shakti Sadan facilities for long-term shelter.
Officials used the training to review medico-legal procedures and standard operating protocols. The Women Helpline 181 and Child Helpline 1098 are now integrated with district centers. Olemjungla Aier, Additional Secretary of Social Welfare, emphasized that clear communication between departments is the only way forward. The state wants to ensure no victim feels abandoned by the law. Every department must work in lockstep to deliver justice without delay.
Comments