Prohibited

Kohima, July 6: The Naga Women Hoho Dimapur has banned the sale of Korean and pornographic movies in Dimapur, alleging that the growing incidence of rape in the state is a fallout of viewing such movies.

Hoho sources said they would conduct raids on video parlours and shops selling Korean movies and pornographic films. “Watching such obscene movies invites evil practices in society such as street gang fights among school boys and illicit and immature affairs among young boys and girls,” a Hoho statement said.

A senior member of the Hoho said the task would not be easy and there might be criticisms from certain sections of society but the decision had to be taken to check rape cases in and around Dimapur.

Korean movies are very popular in Nagaland followed by Chinese martial art films. But Hoho leaders alleged that most of the Korean movies in circulation were obscene. “Our boys and girls prefer to watch Korean movies rather than other good movies,” a senior Hoho member said.

She said they would raid shops that sell pornographic and Korean movies with the administration’s help and impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone selling and watching such movies. There are dozens of video parlours in Dimapur that screen Korean movies.

The Hoho statement said rape and murder of minor girls and women had become rampant in Dimapur. Hence, it had resolved to submit a memorandum to the governor through the district deputy commissioner of Dimapur and would forward copies to the chief minister.

The Hoho said the accused and culprit and the victim and her family should not reach any compromise without intimating it. “Any settlement without the knowledge of the NWHD would be held invalid. The NWHD will take action against the defaulter.”

Besides, any woman who is a bonafide resident of Dimapur and is interested in applying for a job offered by a private organisation from another state, should inform the Hoho. “This is to prevent young women from human trafficking and other forms of exploitation,” it stated.

The Hoho also asked women to avoid wearing indecent and provocative dresses on the heels of the Angami Youth Organisation’s ban on such dresses. “Women of all age groups should dress modestly and decently. If anybody is seen wearing an indecent dress, the organisation will take suitable action,” the Hoho statement said.

The AYO had recently issued a diktat saying it would not tolerate any woman wearing provocative and indecent dresses within its jurisdiction. It said it was not trying to Talibanise Kohima, but check anti-social activities. Reacting to the diktat, some women said men and not dresses were responsible for the rapes.