In a heart-touching gesture, a murder accused was forgiven by family members of the victim following meeting held on June 27.
Informing this in a press note, Kohima Lotha Hoho chairman C Pankathung Lotha and general secretary S Chonbemo Lotha said that Thungchibemo Humtsoe, who was deaf and dumb and hailed from Lakhuti village, was allegedly murdered at Lerie Chazou Colony, Kohima by one Seketol Kiso, son of Pedaho Kiso of Kidima village, on November 30, 2022.
KLH said, after repeated appeals for forgiveness by the accused and subsequent plea by chairman Kidima Village Council (KVC) and secretary Kidima Community Kohima, the hoho held intensive deliberations with the victim’s mother and her children as to whether they could forgive the accused, despite the hoho’s decision to pursue justice in the court of law.
To this, KLH said the mother and her children came to a decision after prayerful dissertation to forgive the accused in the true spirit of a Christian family.
Taken up by this courageous and noble gesture of the victim’s mother and family to forgive the killer, the KLH organised a meeting on June 27 to formalise the intent with both the parties in the presence of various organisations.
The event was witnessed by Southern Angami Public Organization, KCV, head GB Kidima village, Kidima Community Kohima, Lerie Chazou Panchayat, pastor NCRC Kidima village and Kiso clan from the accused side. The victim’s side was attended by leaders of Kohima Eloe Ekhung, Kohima Lotha Youth Organization, Kohima Lotha Student’s Union, Kohima Lakhuti Ekhung, Kohima Humtsothung Ekhung, pastor Kohima Lotha Baptist Church and Kohima Lotha Hoho advisors and elders.
KLH said that SAPO president and others from the accused side expressed profound guilt and shame that such a fate had befallen them, but nevertheless thanked profusely the victim’s mother and family for their large heart to forgive.
The victim’s side led by KLH advisers expressed the hope that such an ugly situation would not be witnessed by the Naga society in future for the reason that though forgiven, the curse remained on such families and prayed that the accused and his family repented and lived an exemplary true Christian life.
