High Court strips Nongpoh Women PS of probe into minor’s death, CCTV seized

SHILLONG, July 18: Expressing grave concerns over a conflict of interest, the High Court of Meghalaya has stripped the Nongpoh Women Police Station of the investigation into the death of a minor girl who died by suicide after being questioned by police.
The court ordered the immediate seizure of CCTV footage to prevent tampering and directed the Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police (SP) to transfer the case to a neighbouring station.
The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh during a hearing on a petition filed by Anius Majhong, the uncle of the deceased.
The bench ordered the SP to secure all CCTV footage from cameras inside and outside the Women Police Station covering the period from 12 noon to 11 pm on June 22. The footage is to be seized under a proper panchnama and preserved in safe custody.
The court’s intervention follows submissions by Amicus Curiae S. Sen, who revealed that the officers initially investigating the death belonged to the same station as the personnel accused of violating the minor’s rights.
“The officers who are under scrutiny and are alleged to have been involved in the incident belong to the same police station,” the court noted, raising serious questions regarding the impartiality of the local probe.
To ensure a fair investigation, the High Court directed that the probe be entrusted to senior officers from a different station under the personal supervision of the Ri-Bhoi SP. The bench further ordered that the officers against whom allegations have been made must not participate in the investigation in any capacity and are restrained from communicating with the victim’s family.
In a move highlighting potential procedural lapses, the court directed the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Nongpoh, to file an affidavit stating whether he was informed by the police when the minor was brought in for questioning—a mandatory legal requirement.
Representing the state, Additional Advocate General K Khan submitted a preliminary report prepared by the Deputy SP of the Women Police Station.
The Ri-Bhoi SP has been directed to be personally present during the next hearing, scheduled for July 29.