Nagaland Police arrest uncle for murder of state-level basketball player Vihozhonu Zao

Guwahati: Nagaland Police have arrested the adopted paternal uncle of 22-year-old state-level basketball player Vihozhonu Zao, solving the high-profile murder case that shocked Kohima on October 25.

Police identified the prime suspect as 31-year-old Samuel Zac, who has confessed to killing his niece, Kohima Superintendent of Police Krodi Rhetso announced at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The authorities apprehended Zac on Tuesday after a Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed on October 26 under Additional SP K. Sarisa, conducted a thorough probe. The investigation began when Vihozhonu’s body was discovered under suspicious circumstances outside her residence in Old Minister’s Hill.

SP Rhetso explained that police determined the murder actually occurred inside the house, while the location where her body was found served as a secondary crime scene. The investigation indicates that the killing resulted from a sudden outburst of anger.

During questioning, Zac revealed that he attacked Vihozhonu around 2 p.m. after she allegedly ignored his request to make tea. He struck her on the head with a piece of firewood, causing fatal injuries. He then covered her head with a sweater, switched off her phone, removed the SIM card, and broke the handset, later disposing of the pieces in a garbage truck the following morning.

Police said Zac concealed the body in his room before moving it near a ring well in the basement of the house. The SIT continues to investigate the case to gather additional evidence and confirm the sequence of events.