Chumoukedima, Nagaland, April 23 (HBTV): The alleged case of assault of a student of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School (DBHSS) in Kohima was actually ‘consensual”, and organized, with even referees and rules in place, the Kohima Village Students’ Union (KVSU) has said.   

Following the circulation of a statement written by the father of the alleged victim in the DBHSS assault case, addressed to the chairman of the Kohima Village Council (KVC), the KVSU undertook an investigation to establish the sequence of events. Letters concerning the incident were submitted by the alleged victim’s father to both the KVC and the KVSU, the union stated.

The KVSU said it was a fact-finding body agreed upon by all parties involved. The union conducted detailed interviews with 19 eyewitnesses, including individuals directly involved in the incident.   

“Our investigation has revealed significant discrepancies between the narrative presented by the alleged victim’s father and the accounts provided by multiple witnesses,” the union stated.

Timeline of events

March 29, 2025

The alleged victim’s family reached out to one of the KVSU executives to inform about the incident. Following this, the President of KVSU, along with seven other executives, visited the alleged victim and his family at the hospital. Letters written by the father of the alleged victim, addressed to the KVC Chairman and KVSU, were dated the same day.

March 30, 2025

The letters were formally received by both the KVC and KVSU. On the same day, KVSU met with one of the key witnesses at his residence. This individual, referred to in the father’s statement as the alleged victim’s friend who was restrained during the incident, was interviewed in the presence of the President of the Tesophenyu Group Students’ Union and a colleague.

March 31, 2025

KVSU met with two additional witnesses at their respective residences.

April 1, 2025

KVSU visited DBHSS and conducted interviews with several individuals who were direct witnesses to the incident and had relevant knowledge of the events surrounding it. The interviews were conducted with the permission of the school authority and in the presence of the school’s disciplinary action committee.

Based on the findings from these interviews and other corroborating testimonies, the following is a reconstruction of the incident and the events surrounding it, as gathered through our investigation.

February 20, 2025

The incident occurred during the short break at school. It began when one of the alleged bullies was eating the alleged victim’s Tiffin, and upon being confronted, responded with verbal abuse. The altercation escalated, leading the alleged victim to challenge one of the alleged bullies to a fight after school.

The challenge was accepted, and the fight was planned to take place after school hours. According to multiple eyewitnesses, including participants, rules were mutually agreed upon and referees were designated. The confrontation was a consensual and organized event. All individuals involved arrived at the location voluntarily. There is no evidence to support claims of ambush or coercion or restraining.

March 25, 2025:

Thirty-three days after the incident, the alleged victim was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition, reportedly experiencing significant pain and distress. However, during the period between the incident and his hospitalization, he continued attending school and actively participated in various events during the school’s annual sports week, held on March 19, 20, and 21. These details were gathered during the course of our inquiries at the school.

“Our foremost concern throughout this process has been the health and recovery of the alleged victim. The release of any findings was intended to take place only after his recovery and after obtaining a direct statement from him as well,” the union stated.   

“However, while we were waiting for his recovery to obtain personal statement, the alleged victim's family filed an FIR, and with the matter now under police investigation, KVSU finds it necessary to present the findings gathered so far, based on the accounts of the alleged accused and multiple eyewitnesses. Due to the medical condition of the alleged victim, we were unable to obtain a personal statement from him.” 

The KVSU affirmed that its investigation has been conducted with impartiality and diligence.  

“All interviews and findings have been properly documented and recorded. Based on the available evidence and eyewitness accounts, the KVSU has reconstructed the sequence of events as accurately and objectively as possible.”

The union has urged everyone in concern to approach the matter with sensitivity and to refrain from spreading unverified information that could disturb communal harmony or misrepresent the truth.