By Our Reporter
State exchequer spends over Rs 1 crore in three years
SHILLONG: The Judicial Inquiry Commission, probing the infamous Shillong jail break, is in limbo as the State Government is yet to extend the time for further sittings.
Moreover, the government has asked the Commission for a preliminary report instead of extending time to complete the full probe.
An official informed that the Justice (retd) SP Rajkhowa Inquiry Commission probing the Shillong jail break is yet to get any extension since July.
“The State Government has also written to the Commission to provide a preliminary report,” the official associated with the Commission said.
However, the Commission has sought at least one month to record the findings, the official informed.
An official with the Political Department, has meanwhile, informed that the government is processing the file so that extension can be granted to the Commission.
It was on May 31, 2009 that seven under-trial prisoners led by the gang leader, Fullmoon Dhar, had escaped from the Shillong district jail.
The next day, Dhar was killed in an alleged fake encounter while the others were re-captured.
There were many twists and turns related to the jail break which had revealed that money, liquor and guns were available to the jail break mastermind Dhar to effect the jail break.
Under pressure from various quarters, the State Government on July 23, 2009 appointed the one-man Judicial Inquiry Commission led by Justice (retd) D Biswas.
However, Biswas left the probe mid-way after he was appointed Up-Lokayukta in Assam in April 2010.
Following this, the State Government on August 20, 2010 appointed the SP Rajkhowa Inquiry Commission to complete the probe.
Billed as the costliest and the most time consuming inquiry ever, the jail break probe has failed to make any headway.
The final report is yet to be ready despite an expenditure of over Rs 1 crore and a time period of three years.
It may however be reminded that the probe suffered delays due to court cases.
While the jail break probe was in progress, a petition was filed last year by Agnes Kharshiing, who is pursuing the jail break case in the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court, seeking the 
intervention of the Court to examine more witnesses.
Following the petition, the court on October 20 last year had stayed the hearing of the Commission.
However, in its sitting on May 4 last, the Court allowed the Commission to resume the hearing.