The Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) has lodged a complaint against a sub-inspector of the Ladrymbai police outpost for refusing to register an FIR lodged by some aggrieved individuals because it was in a local language.
The Khliehriat circle of the FKJGP in a complaint to the East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police stated the police officer had instructed the outpost that FIRs should be filed in English language.
“This directive not only contradicts the common practice and legal acceptance of accepting FIRs in local languages but also imposes significant barriers for ordinary citizens who may not be proficient in English,” circle president Michal Chyrmang said.
Pointing out that the community who, due to limited English proficiency, face undue difficulty in reporting their grievances before the police, he said the instruction will deter individuals from seeking justice and reporting crimes, thereby undermining the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing local issues.
The FKJGP urged the SP to review the instruction and take appropriate action against the sub-inspector and other police officers and to ensure that FIRs can be filed in the local languages prevalent in the district.
