Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur clarifies June 26 scuffle in Dimapur

DIMAPUR — The Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) has issued a clarification regarding the incident that occurred between Meyi Jamir and Rohit Kumar Sah on June 26 in Dimapur.

In the statement, the ASTD mentioned that following the incident, the assailant was summoned by the Mongsenyimti Senso Telongjem, Dimapur, where Rohit Kumar Sah admitted his guilt.

It said that the issue was amicably resolved between the two parties as the Bihari Samaj Dimapur pleaded with the Mongsenyimti Union Dimapur to settle and recompense the matter in accordance with the Ao customary practices and traditions of the land rather than filing an FIR.

Consequently, on humanitarian grounds and due to the Mongsenyimti Union’s bold visionary hope for co-existence and trust, the assailant was forgiven in good faith by merely imposing a pig as a fine.

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“It is an age-old traditional custom, a deeply rooted practice among the Ao community that when an individual commits an offence, transgression, violation and/or misdeed, particularly involving violence or harm, the defaulting party is required to offer an animal as a form of customary fine. The highest degree of punishment is imposing a fine of up to 30 pigs/cows,” the statement read.

It further added that this act holds significance as the taking of an animal’s life as a traditional means of atonement, representing the life of the animal in place of that of the assailant. Through this practice, harmony is restored between the parties involved.

It went on to say that this also reflects the community’s emphasis on reconciliation, justice, and the sanctity of life as upheld through ancestral customs.

Further, commenting on the opinion expressed by some individuals that the defaulter’s trade licence be cancelled, expulsion from the land, and manhandling, it stated that these are matters beyond the jurisdiction of any community-based organisation. Therefore, if anyone seeks further clarification or has concerns regarding this matter, they may approach the office of the ASTD.