By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The district council court on Wednesday cancelled the interim bail, which it had granted more than a month ago to an accused in a rape case.
It was on June 9 that a 14-year-old girl hailing from Mawlyndep village was allegedly raped by her relative Sabili Mawlong (28) of Mawlaingut village, East Khasi Hills.
The interim bail was granted to the accused for more than a month, though the usual interim bail period is only two weeks.
According to police, the case was registered only two months after the incident and prior to that the family members of the victim were reluctant to come forward to file an FIR.
“An FIR was only filed on August 7 and subsequently attempts were made to apprehend the accused who was then absconding,” a senior police official said here on Wednesday.
Surprisingly, on August 10, an order was issued by the District Council Court stating that the accused was granted interim bail for more than one month which had hampered the investigation.
In the report presented before the court on Wednesday, it was mentioned that the culprit was not at all cooperating with the police. “Moreover, he is a habitual offender and granting of more than a month interim bail had hampered the investigation”, the report said.
The police sources also added that they were shocked when they received the court order on August 10 stating the date fixed for the hearing of the case was today (Wednesday), giving ample time for the accused to roam about.
Interestingly, the accused had sought anticipatory bail without obtaining the necessary report from the respective police station. “We were not informed that the accused had moved for interim bail, it was only after we got an order from the court that we came to know that interim bail was granted”, the source added.
However, the positive medical reports about the rape coupled with strong evidence against the accused were enough for the court to cancel the interim bail.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang said that though the interim bail was cancelled on Wednesday, the police are however awaiting the order to be delivered to them by the court officially.