Meghalaya High Court Dissatisfied with Police Probe
The Meghalaya High Court criticized the state police's investigation into August 19 violence in Shillong, questioning the failure to stop a rally that violated conditions and led to vandalism.
The Meghalaya High Court has sharply criticized the state police for its handling of the investigation into violence that erupted in Shillong on August 19. A bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh expressed dissatisfaction with the probe's progress during a hearing on Wednesday.
The judicial bench focused on a black-flag bike rally organized by the Khasi Students' Union (KSU). Police had approved the rally with strict conditions, including a requirement that participants not cover their faces. The justices were informed that many protesters violated this rule. They also obscured their vehicle registration numbers and carried lathis and other potentially dangerous objects.
Justice Dere stated the bench was "not happy" with the investigation. It questioned why officers failed to stop the rally once these breaches became apparent. The judges observed that timely police intervention could have averted the subsequent violence.
Details of the Violence and Police Response
Protesters vandalized and set ablaze vehicles, including those with Assam registration numbers. They also damaged a glass panel on a statue of philosopher Swami Vivekananda. Despite the scale of the violence, police have made only four arrests. The high court asked why others involved were not taken into custody, noting the violence involved "hundreds of miscreants."
The Official Investigation and Evidence
The justices turned their attention to the official investigation. They expressed concern over the lack of arrests, even though 22 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered across Shillong. Police provided a breakdown of where these FIRs were filed.
| Police Station | Number of FIRs Filed |
|---|---|
| Sadar | 4 |
| Rynjah | 9 |
| Mawlai | 7 |
| Laitumkhrah | 1 |
| Lumdiengjri | 1 |
Investigators told the judges they had seized two vehicles, obtained call detail records for eight phone numbers, and collected CCTV footage from 27 locations for analysis. The bench stressed that investigators must go beyond arresting KSU office-bearers. They must identify and apprehend those directly responsible for individual acts of violence.
Judicial Directives and Broader Impact
The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of the violence after the KSU rally descended into clashes and targeted attacks. The violence subsequently heightened tensions along the Meghalaya-Assam border and disrupted interstate transit. In response, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Inspector General of Police Marak.
The judiciary directed that its observations be communicated to the SIT chief. It also ordered the IGP, the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, and the officers-in-charge of the Sadar and Lumdiengjri police stations to appear in person at the next hearing. They must explain the progress of the probe.
The bench further instructed police to produce the case diary related to an attack on two high court vehicles. It noted that all cases, including an attack on a public transport bus, must receive the same expeditious consideration. A fresh status report must be submitted at the next hearing scheduled for September 7.
