An FIR is said to be the first step toward justice — yet no one really teaches us how to file one. And so, when a crime happens, most people step back. Not because the crime is small, but because the law feels too big.
The truth is far simpler than we think: an FIR is just the police writing down what happened. That is it. The moment it is written, the law cannot ignore your voice.
You can file an FIR for anything serious — theft, assault, harassment, threats, sexual offences, kidnapping, or accidents causing injury or death. And if you are unsure whether it counts, go anyway. It is always safer to report than to stay silent.
Also read Understanding the law, Accessing Justice (Ain phapkata eina mashun samkaphang)
Ithum saikorana theiya FIR hina mashun samphangkhavai ithumwui peikar kharena, kha FIR khakapi hi ithumli matamchitheimana.
Khayon khamang kashok tharan, police li vahang kashap mi machungmanei. Khayon khamang otsak chi teona kahai wui vang maningla kha ayin phapmata thuda ithum ngachihai paiya.
FIR mikasang hi masak mana: Police li khayon khamang shok kahai kahang tharan, police na kapi kahai lairik chili FIR (First Information Report) hoya.
Khayon khamang otsak mik eina kathei tharan kala nali mina mamashungla sayon kahai tharan—Khali-kasa, rekakharek, mili sakathat, mili khamathang khamarang otsak tandi eina kasa kala mi kathi katha kashok tharan FIR misang paya.
Khi rashoklak rakhala kachi nana matheivarar salala, FIR misanglo. Kashaikha pam kahai paliva, report mikasang hina chongmei kharra
(This article is part of the series Understanding the Law, Accessing Justice (Ain phapkata eina mashun samkaphang). Since this series challenges the exclusivity of legal language, it will also include Tangkhul translations. As a Tangkhul writer, I believe if legal knowledge is meant for everyone, it must be available in the languages people think, feel, and navigate life in. Accessibility cannot be preached without being practiced.)