SHILLONG: In a contentious development, five pressure groups in Garo Hills have demanded the release of six individuals accused in the brutal assault of a woman in Dadenggre, West Garo Hills.
They argue that the assault was a “corrective act” sanctioned by Garo tribal customs and should be “respected” as such.
They also added that the accused are family members of the victim and they had taken the step “to discipline their kin”.
“Such corrective action is the sole prerogative of family members and the clan, and most often, done as a last resort when all counselling and efforts to persuade to reform the erring family member fails. It is an act of love and care for their siblings or kin…,” they reportedly said.
In addition to demand of immediate release, the groups also called for compensation, asserting that their detention “violated natural and customary rights”.
In a letter addressed to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Thursday, the groups asserted that the district administration should refrain from intervening in what they describe as “personal affairs governed by traditional authorities within the Garo tribe”.
“Such form of corrective act is a common action prevalent among the Garo tribe and that is the right and prerogative of the Chras in case of relative female offender and Ma’drangs in case of a relative male offender and both depending on their choice…” the letter reportedly read.
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The groups – the Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People, Association for Democracy and Empowerment, Federation for A’chik Freedom, Garo Students Union and Achik Youth Welfare Organisation – also claimed to have verified facts of the case.
According to the groups, the purported victim had allegedly been involved in what they termed an “immoral life”, prompting repeated complaints from offended family members over the years.
They claimed that both the victim and her alleged paramour, a married man, had confessed to their illicit relationship.
In accordance with Garo tradition and customary law, the victim reportedly paid a fine for adultery, the letter read.
The pressure groups argued that external interference, including by governmental bodies like GHADC, infringes upon the Garo community’s inherent right to uphold their customs and traditions autonomously.
The GHADC has yet to issue a formal response to these demands, with the issue highlighting ongoing tensions between traditional customs and modern legal frameworks in tribal regions.
Earlier on June 27, police arrested six individuals linked to a brutal assault on a woman in Dadenggre, West Garo Hills.
The incident, occurring June 25 in Lower Teksragre village under Damal Asim outpost, saw a group of men attacking her in front of over 100 bystanders who reportedly did not intervene.
The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) too had taken suo-motu cognizance of the incident, condemning it and calling for a thorough investigation.
