SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has asked the DGP to order a CID inquiry into the harassment of a person by a village headman while the East Khasi Hills SP has been asked to conduct another probe against the officer in charge of the police outpost for failing to take action on the FIR filed by the petitioner.
Earlier, the case was filed after the headman of Nongkriah village, Hima Malaisohmat, East Khasi Hills, Blu Borman issued a demand notice for Rs 50,000 to be paid to him by the petitioner, Hilarious Wanniang. The headman also threatened to remove the petitioner from the village if he fails to pay the amount. On Friday, the High Court had ordered the headman, East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak and officer in charge of Dangar police outpost S. Kharbuli to be present during the hearing on Monday.
When the matter was taken up on Monday, the counsels for all the parties, besides the headman and police officials, were present.
When the question of demand note was put to the headman by the court, he denied that he had written that letter.
The counsel for the petitioner also produced one letter in original wherein it appears that he has written a letter to the petitioner telling him that he can come to his village and stay only if he withdraws the case.
The original letter was returned to the petitioner’s counsel and a photocopy was kept in the file.
“After hearing the submission advanced by the counsels, it appears that till date police also could not progress in the case. Therefore, I direct the DGP Meghalaya to hand over this case to the CID who can do an independent investigation and the officer who is appointed for the investigation should collect all the papers from both the parties and investigate the case fairly without supporting any of the parties,” Judge SR Sen said.
According to the judge, whoever is found guilty, a proper case should be registered and the accused should be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate for necessary order.
The petitioner has also been directed to cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required.
The East Khasi Hills SP has also been directed to conduct an inquiry against Kharbuli. The judge said the progress of the case by the CID should be intimated to the court after three weeks.