The Press Information Bureau organized a Media workshop ‘Vartalap’ on Cyber Suraksha Bharat at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur today. The workshop focused on two key technical themes: ‘Legal Perspective on Defamation & Journalistic Responsibilities’ and ‘An Overview of Cyber Crime in Nagaland’.

Henlly Phom Odyuo, President, Dimapur Press Club, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the first technical session on “A Legal Perspective on Defamation & Journalistic Responsibilities,” Temsunaro Jamir, Public Prosecutor, Dimapur, deliberated on the legal distinctions between civil and criminal defamation under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

Jamir underscored the core ethics of journalism—accuracy, fairness, independence, and accountability. She cautioned media professionals against running parallel media trials that prejudice judicial proceedings, emphasizing the mandatory constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty. She highlighted strict compliance with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, reiterating that absolute anonymity of minor survivors is a legal mandate.

Advising journalists on risk mitigation, she stressed documenting the “Right of Reply,” retaining raw source materials, and verifying facts in good faith for public interest as essential defenses against legal action.

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In the subsequent technical session on “An Overview of Cyber Crime in Nagaland,” Kihika Chishi, NPS, Officer-in-Charge, Cyber Crime Police Station, Police Headquarters (PHQ), Nagaland highlighted the growing digital threat landscape in the state. He disclosed that 80–85% of all reported cybercrimes in Nagaland are concentrated in Dimapur and Kohima.

Chishi noted that cybercrime extends beyond technological flaws and exploits human emotions, trust, and fear through social engineering techniques like phishing, smishing, vishing, digital arrests, investment scams, and fake loan applications.