Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Justice Lanusungkum Jamir, chairman of the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission, wants tougher laws against stalkers. He spoke July 15 at a state awareness program in Kohima. The event was held by the National Commission for Women and the Nagaland State Commission for Women. Jamir argued that India must treat stalking as a serious criminal offense rather than a harmless act. He highlighted the severe psychological and emotional trauma victims suffer.
Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covers both physical and cyber stalking. But the law remains flawed. Jamir noted that the provision only targets men as offenders and makes the first offense bailable. He pushed for gender-neutral laws that account for modern digital harassment. Stalkers often use spyware, fake accounts, and social media to monitor their targets. These digital tools make harassment easier than ever.
Stalking creates a climate of fear. Jamir advised victims to block offenders and save all digital evidence. He warned against responding to harassers or engaging with them directly. “Individuals must be educated on how to document and report repeated unwanted intrusions before they escalate into violence,” he said. Societies must stop viewing persistence as affection. Consent is not optional.
W. Nginyeih Konyak, chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for Women, noted that Nagaland has low crime rates against women but faces growing online abuse. She called for better digital literacy and stronger infrastructure to protect people in schools and homes. Enforcement agencies still struggle with cross-border digital crimes and low reporting rates. Authorities urge the public to think before they post and never use the internet to intimidate others.
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