Nagaland: High Court grants bail to police officer accused in Unity village shooting probe

DIMAPUR — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Katovi Zhimomi, reportedly a sub-inspector (SI) in Nagaland Police, who is facing charges of divulging confidential information understood to be in connection with the May 23 shooting incident at Unity village in Chümoukedima district.

In an order issued this week, Justice Shamima Jahan noted that the petitioner, Katovi Zhimomi, was earlier granted interim bail by the court on June 27 and has since cooperated with the investigation, including appearing for interrogation on multiple dates and consenting to a voice sample collection before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Dimapur.

Per the court records, the case has its origins in a First Information Report (FIR) registered at Diphupar Police Station (Case No. 40/2025) under various sections of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and the Official Secrets Act.

“The prosecution’s case, as revealed from the FIR dated June 17, 2025, is that a proposal for lawful surveillance of mobile phone number in connection with Diphupar PS case No. 0033/2025 was initiated, and during the said surveillance, the accused person in the said case was found to be in contact with the petitioner through his mobile phone.

“It was also alleged in the FIR that the petitioner, who is a police personnel, was found divulging important information pertaining to the investigation so as to assist the main accused to evade arrest. The petitioner was, as such, allegedly found responsible for criminal conspiracy as well as other offences amounting to cognisable criminal cases. The police, on receipt of the said FIR, registered the case as Diphupar PS case No. 0040/2025,” the order read.

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The original case—Diphupar PS case No. 0033/2025—pertains to the May 23 shooting incident at Unity village.

Senior advocate CT Jamir, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the allegations lacked evidentiary support and highlighted the petitioner’s full cooperation during the investigation and the absence of any proof of sensitive information being disclosed.

“He also submits that the petitioner appeared before the CJM, Dimapur, Nagaland, on July 9, 2025, on a prayer made by the investigating officer for collection of voice sample to which he had given his consent. As such, it is prayed that the petitioner may be released on bail,” the order stated.

However, the public prosecutor opposed the bail plea, citing call data records showing multiple calls between the petitioner and the wife of the accused person in the original case (Unity village shooting case).

“He had placed the case diary and had shown the stipulations made in the same, wherein it demonstrated that the petitioner had called the wife of the main accused four numbers of times, which is reflected in the call data records received by the Investigating Officer.

“He had also placed statements of the accused person wherein he had admitted to calling the wife of the accused person in the other case. As such, he objects to the grant of bail and to vacate the interim bail,” it stated.

But after reviewing the case diary and statements, the court observed that while phone contact was established, there was no conclusive evidence of confidential information being shared.

Also, the judge noted that the female constable accompanying the petitioner during a visit to the accused person’s residence could not confirm any wrongdoing, as the conversation occurred in a local dialect she did not understand.

“It is further noticed that, pursuant to the interim bail, the petitioner was called by the Investigating Officer, which he complied with, and he went on June 27, 2025, and gave his statement. Then, he again appeared on June 28, 2025, on which date he was re-examined. Further, he was called on June 30, 2025, to which he complied, and he was again re-examined.

“Again on July 2, 2025, the petitioner was called, and he was further examined. Thereafter, on July 9, 2025, he was called by the CJM, Dimapur, Nagaland, to which he appeared, and he gave consent for the collection of his voice sample. It is, therefore, noticed that the petitioner had not violated any of the orders of the Investigating Officer, and he cooperated with the investigation as and when called for. He had also given consent for collection of his voice sample,” the judge remarked in her order.

Taking into account the petitioner’s cooperation and absence of concrete evidence of tampering, the court made the interim bail absolute and granted anticipatory bail on a bond of INR 30,000 with two local sureties, including one from a resident of Nagaland.

The bail is subject to the following conditions: the petitioner must cooperate with the investigation and appear when summoned; he must not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses; and he cannot leave the jurisdiction of Diphupar Police Station without prior permission.