In Nagaland, outrage over child sexual abuse case against pastor reflects generational shift
Church officials have backed legal action while Naga society has openly discussed a taboo topic, raising questions about the role of religious leaders.
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Early in October, news broke that a senior pastor of a Dimapur church had been booked under the child sexual abuse prevention law.
It sent ripples of shock in Naga society.
In a letter dated September 19, which was made public only after the allegations came to the fore, the board of the Father’s House Church in Chümoukedima announced the resignation of senior pastor Robert Kikon after his “immoral acts” were uncovered. “[He] will no longer be serving in any capacity of the Church nor is he to represent us in any manner,” read the letter.
Outrage ensued online and among Naga society, with calls for justice for the survivors.
On October 5, several weeks after the allegations emerged, the Father’s House Church filed a police complaint against Kikon. “The case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the Church and investigation is ongoing,” Khekali Y Sumi, Dimapur deputy commissioner of police (crime), told Scroll on October 30.
Another police official, who did not want to be identified, told Scroll that the charges against Kikon include sections under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. “The victims are minors and they are males,” he said.
According to the official, after social media posts alleging abuse, the police also took cognisance and made...
