From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 27: The West Garo Hills Police has issued a clarification regarding the registration of cases linked to the vandalism at Chibinang on March 9.
According to Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma, a joint FIR was lodged on March 18 by the GSU Chibinang and Phulbari regional units against former Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin. The complaint alleged criminal offences, including the vandalization of the GSU office and a statue at Chibinang Bazar.
Based on this FIR, Phulbari PS Case No. 12/2026 was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act. Police confirmed that the accused have been arrested and the investigation is under way. They further noted that on April 14, another complaint regarding the same incident was received from Bernard N Marak. This complaint was forwarded to Phulbari Police Station for action. However, as both complaints relate to the same incident and facts, Marak’s complaint has been treated as supplementary to the original case.
Citing the Supreme Court judgment in TT Antony Vs State of Kerala & Others (2001), the district police stated that multiple FIRs cannot be registered for the same occurrence. Any subsequent information must instead form part of the investigation in the original case.
The police added that action will be taken against those involved based on evidence collected. The clarification was issued to resolve public confusion regarding the handling of multiple complaints.
