The Watsü Mungdang, the apex organization of Ao women, held a Silent Procession on 27th November 2024 in Mokokchung, demanding immediate action against the postmaster(s) of the Facebook group the ‘Patriotic Nagas’ for its defaming post against Ao women and Padma Bhushan and former chief minister of Nagaland, Dr. S.C. Jamir. All the federating units of Watsü Mungdang joined the procession, wearing black bands on their arms to show solidarity and condemnation of the post on social media.

The women and supporters marched from Ao Senden Kilem to the DC Office, Mokokchung, where a memorandum was submitted to the Governor of Nagaland through the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung.

Earlier, during a brief program at the Ao Senden Kilem, S. Arenla Longkumer, President of Watsü Mungdang, highlighted that Ao women across the State and across the world are organising the demonstration to show solidarity and grievances against the ‘Patriotic Nagas’ for the objectionable post that intended to tarnish the image of Ao women and Dr. S.C. Jamir.

Longkumer expressed regret that despite the appeals from Ao organizations to book the accused(s) since early November, there has been no response from the authorities and said that if no positive response is received, the Organization will take next course of action.

At the DC Office, the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, assured the Watsü Mungdang that the memorandum to the Governor would be dispatched immediately and hoped that the necessary measures would be initiated promptly.

In its memorandum to the Governor, the Watsü Mungdang highlighted that the ‘Patriotic Nagas’ had made demeaning remarks about Ao Women and against Padma Bushan Dr. S.C. Jamir on his genetic ethnicity and family history (Paternity) and in this connection, the Ao Senden has met the Director General of Police, Nagaland on 13th November 2024 and submitted a complaint and also lodged an FIR at Police Station-1, Mokokchung. Additionally, the Dimapur Ao Youth Organization (DAYO) also filed an FIR at Cyber Crime Police Station, PHQ, Kohima, against the postmasters for the defamatory post but no progress has been made so far.

Read more: Ao Senden meets DGP, lodges complaint against social media group

“The modesty of the Ao Naga Women has been tarnished and defamed,” the Watsü Mungdang remarked, and appealed to the Governor “to kindly look into the matter so as to uncover the true identity of these so called ‘Patriotic Nagas’ and bring them to book.