A Media Workshop-VARTALAP on “Cyber Suraksha Bharat: Overview of Cyber Crime in Nagaland and Legal Perspective on Defamation and Journalistic Responsibilities” was held at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur, on September 22. The workshop was organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima, with the objective of creating greater awareness among media professionals on cybercrime, emerging cyber threats, defamation laws and the responsibilities of journalists in professional reporting.
Guest of Honour and President of the Dimapur Press Club, Henley Phom Odyuo, said that cybercrime was no longer a distant concept or merely a police subject in Nagaland, but had become a social issue. She said citizens often approached the media after being duped online, making it important for journalists to report such cases without compromising investigations or legal requirements.
She also highlighted the importance of understanding defamation and journalistic responsibility, particularly amid the rapid spread of news through WhatsApp and social media. She stressed the need for journalists to understand the balance between freedom of expression and legal liability.
Odyuo expressed hope that the session would strengthen understanding of legal safeguards and improve coordination between the police and media. She requested the police to establish a streamlined system for sharing information and updates with the media, while urging journalists to uphold professional ethics. She said the workshop should lead to continued cooperation and practical follow-up beyond the session.
During the technical session, Kihika Chishi, NPS, O/C Cyber Crime Police Station, PHQ, briefed the participants on the prevailing status and emerging trends of cybercrime in Nagaland.
He said cybercrime did not always involve sophisticated technology, but could begin with a careless click, a shared OTP, a weak password or a moment of misplaced trust. He stressed the need for individuals to remain alert and verify information before trusting or sharing it. He urged people to exercise caution while using digital platforms and to protect their passwords, PINs and other sensitive information. He also emphasised the importance of multi-factor authentication, secure social media settings and downloading applications only from authentic sources.
Chishi advised victims of cybercrime to act quickly and preserve all available evidence. In cases of financial fraud, he stressed the importance of immediately calling 1930, reporting the incident through cybercrime.gov.in and approaching the nearest police station.
He also encouraged responsible information sharing, particularly on social media, cautioning against forwarding unverified information, rumours or misleading content that could cause public fear or create hostility between groups. The session highlighted the growing nature of cyber-related offences and the need for greater awareness and vigilance in the digital space.
Temsunaro Jamir, Public Prosecutor, Dimapur, in her session on “Legal Perspective on Defamation and Journalistic Responsibilities”, said journalists must exercise caution and responsibility while reporting, particularly in matters involving crime, court proceedings and allegations.
She explained that defamation could arise from false statements communicated to a third party that harm the reputation of an individual or entity. She highlighted the distinction between civil and criminal defamation and said journalists should understand the legal boundaries while exercising freedom of speech.
Jamir stressed the importance of accuracy, fairness and verification, stating that journalists should distinguish clearly between facts, allegations, analysis and opinions. She advised media persons to avoid sensational headlines, captions and social media posts that could exaggerate or distort the actual report.
On court reporting, she cautioned journalists against conducting a “parallel trial” in the media, particularly in ongoing criminal cases. She emphasised maintaining the presumption of innocence and using precise terminology such as “police arrested a suspect” or “as alleged by the investigating agency,” rather than declaring an accused person guilty before a court verdict.
She also highlighted statutory safeguards while reporting cases involving children, particularly under the POCSO Act, stressing that the identity of minor survivors must not be disclosed, including through indirect details such as addresses, schools, neighbourhoods or identifiable photographs.
Jamir further underlined the importance of the right of reply, saying that persons against whom damaging allegations are made should be given a fair opportunity to respond. She advised journalists to maintain records of emails, calls and messages showing their attempts to obtain responses.
She also urged media persons to retain evidence, including raw interview recordings, field notes and primary source documents, to demonstrate due diligence if a legal notice or defamation proceeding arises.
In conclusion, she said responsible journalism requires journalists to verify information, report in good faith, minimise harm, act independently and remain accountable and transparent in their work.
The inaugural session featured opening remarks by Andrew Lalchhandama, IIS, MCO, PIB Kohima and P. Sophie, IIS, HOO, PIB Kohima, gave the vote of thanks.
(I Tiakumla Ao, IA Dimapur)
