The Nagaland Police has issued a strong warning against the spread of misinformation and fake news surrounding the ongoing investigation into the murder of Vihozhonu Zao, which occurred on October 24, 2025.

The police said in the wake of this heinous crime, it was observed that there has been unacceptable proliferation of fake news and unverified claims circulating on various social media platforms.

In a “Stringent public warning and advisory”, titled, “Zero Tolerance for Misinformation Regarding the Homicide of Vihozhonu Zao”, the Police cautioned that the creation, dissemination, or amplification of unverified and speculative or fabricated information relating to the case constitutes a serious criminal offense under Indian law.

The Advisory emphasized that those spreading fake or defamatory content will face strict legal consequences, including immediate arrest, criminal prosecution, and imprisonment, under provisions of the Information Technology Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 pertaining to defamation, public mischief, spreading hatred and obstruction of lawful investigation

Nagaland Police further warned the public not to engage in sharing unverified contents and spreading baseless theories about the motives, suspects or the circumstances of the murder.

It also warned against naming, accusing, or defaming individuals not officially named as suspects by the investigating authorities.

The police warned against inciting violence or communal hatred by linking the crime to any specific community or ethnicity, without official evidence.

It said that such activities would be met with the full force of the law.

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Appeal to the Public

Verify Before You Share: If you receive any information, check official handles before sharing it.

Report Violations: Report any fake news or malicious posts you encounter.

Empathize: Respect the privacy and dignity of the victim’s family. Remember that a family is grieving.

“Your irresponsible share adds to the family’s trauma and hinders justice. We will not allow the digital space to become a breeding ground for misinformation around a serious criminal investigation,” the Advisory said.

Calling for public cooperation, the Police underscored that the path to justice for Vihozhonu Zao requires truth and integrity, not speculation and malice, and declared that this announcement stands as a final warning to offenders.

“Let this warning serve as the final notice,” the Advisory stated.