Several tribal women’s bodies in Nagaland staged a protest in Kohima on Friday, demanding a speedy trial in the sexual harassment case involving IAS officer Reny Wilfred. The protestors marched from Old MLA junction to the Lok Bhavan, where they submitted a memorandum to the governor of Nagaland. The memorandum, signed by representatives of various women’s organisations, alleged that repeated legal challenges filed by the accused have prolonged judicial proceedings and undermined public confidence in the justice delivery system. The organisations stated that the continued delay in the case risks weakening the principles of fair and expeditious justice and could foster a sense of impunity among perpetrators of crimes against women and children. The groups pointed out that Wilfred had earlier been accused of molesting two minor girls during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Noklak.
A case was registered in 2021 under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. However, the matter remains unresolved nearly five years later. The women’s organisations further referred to another FIR registered on April 2, 2025, alleging sexual harassment of women employees by Wilfred during his tenure as Joint Secretary at the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN). The organisations expressed concern over the pace of the proceedings, highlighting a series of legal developments, including the dismissal of a writ petition before the Gauhati High Court’s Kohima Bench seeking quashing of the FIR, followed by the dismissal of an appeal before the Supreme Court. The organisations questioned the admission of a Criminal Revision Petition filed by the accused in 2026 challenging the rejection of his discharge plea. According to the memorandum, victims were scheduled to depose before the Sessions Court on June 9, 2026, but the hearing was adjourned to July 14 due to the pendency of the revision petition. The protesting organisations demanded that no further wilful delays be permitted and that the trial be conducted in a fair, impartial and time-bound manner.
They also sought the continuation of Wilfred’s suspension pending the outcome of the case and urged that he not be reinstated or assigned any official responsibilities during the trial. The memorandum further stated that, in the event of conviction, the accused should be permanently barred from holding any public office or government position in Nagaland. The women’s groups also drew attention to several recent cases of alleged sexual violence and harassment involving women and minors in different parts of Nagaland, including incidents reported from Dimapur, Kohima and Kiphire. They condemned the alleged crimes and called for exemplary punishment for all perpetrators in accordance with the law. The organisations argued that prolonged delays in judicial proceedings weaken deterrence and contribute to rising incidents of crime. They urged authorities to ensure the speedy disposal of such cases and sought personal intervention to guarantee prompt and impartial justice.
