Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) Chairman Justice Lanusungkum Jamir has called for stronger laws, better institutional support and greater public awareness to tackle stalking and cyber stalking, saying such acts are serious violations of human dignity and must be addressed with urgency.Speaking at a state-level awareness programme on the prevention of stalking and cyber stalking, organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW), Justice Jamir said India has moved beyond treating stalking as a harmless act and now recognises it as a serious criminal offence that can cause lasting psychological and emotional harm.Referring to Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he said the law criminalises both physical stalking and cyber stalking. However, he pointed out that the provision identifies the offender only as a man and that a first offence remains bailable. He said the law should continue to evolve to reflect the growing reality of gender-neutral digital harassment and provide equal legal protection to every citizen.
Emphasising the importance of consent, Justice Jamir said society must reject the long-held belief that persistence is a sign of love or affection. “No means no,” he said, adding that healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, trust and consent, not on control, intimidation or obsession.He also highlighted the growing role of technology in enabling stalking. According to him, social media platforms, spyware and other digital tools have made it easier for offenders to harass victims. He said cyber stalking can include repeated online harassment, identity theft, constant monitoring, fake social media profiles, threats and the unauthorised sharing of personal information.Justice Jamir noted that while the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act have strengthened India’s legal framework to deal with such offences, enforcement still faces several challenges. These include cross-border investigations, rapidly changing technology, low levels of digital literacy and the social stigma that often discourages victims from reporting online abuse. Calling privacy and the right to live without fear fundamental rights, he advised victims to preserve evidence, avoid engaging with harassers, block offenders, report abusive content to online platforms and approach law enforcement agencies if the harassment continues or becomes more serious.
He expressed hope that the awareness programme would help educate young people about recognising, preventing and responding to stalking and cyber stalking. Earlier, Nagaland State Commission for Women Chairperson W. Nginyeih Konyak said that although Nagaland continues to report one of the lowest crime rates against women in the country, cyber stalking and other forms of online abuse are emerging concerns. She stressed the need to improve digital literacy, strengthen cyber infrastructure, provide better institutional support in educational institutions and put an end to victim-blaming.
