SHILLONG: A single-member Bench of Meghalaya High Court has directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to file the latest status of the investigation into the Amlanai murder case on or before August 28, besides directing the IO to remain present in the court along with the case diary.
It may be recalled three persons including the headman of Amlanai, Thomlin Surong, village secretary Hamboi Langshiang and another village member Shan Khongiong were killed at Amlanai village at Trangblang in West Jaintia Hills on July 6 afternoon.
The widows of the deceased from Amlanai filed a petition in Meghalaya High Court appealing that the investigation of the case may either be directed to be conducted by a special investigation team or handed over to the CBI.
In the order dated August 10, the Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir pointed to the heinousness of the offence, the manner in which it had been committed as well as alleged negative approach of the police.
“At the first instance, it would be appropriate to direct the Investigating Officer to file the latest status of the investigation and to remain present along with the case diary on 14.08.2018,” the CJ said.
In compliance to the order of the High Court dated August 10, 2018, the Investigating Officer was present in person along with case diary on August 14.
The Investigating Officer said that the investigation was being supervised by the Superintendent of Police concerned who will investigate and finalized the investigation with promptitude.
“Affidavit filed by him suggests that seven accused persons have been arrested, 31 witnesses have been examined, weapons of offence (15 Nos.) have been recovered, steps have also been taken for recording statements of the witnesses under Section 164 CrPC and report of the FSL is also awaited. In short, the investigation is in full swing,” the Chief Justice said.
Previously, during a hearing of the case on August 10, the Single-member Bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, said, “While going through the records more particularly the averments of the petition, one cannot resist but to say that humanity feels ashamed to notice such happenings in a barbaric manner wherein husbands of the petitioners had been killed.”