Lingering proceedings to pick pace, say sources
SHILLONG: The hearing in the Rs 31-crore damage suit pending before the Special Court will be on February 23. The suit seeks compensation for the loss of property during the ILP movement that rocked the state in 2013-14.
Sources said civil cases usually come to a standstill during December and January and are likely to pick up pace now with the opening of the courts.
Interestingly, only one witness has been examined in the case which was registered long time back and over 50 witnesses are yet to be examined.
However, sources are confident that the case will pick up pace now and even 3-4 witnesses will be examined in a single day.
According to sources, the case is dragging along due to transfers of magistrates and retirement of government officials.
Besides, three murder cases are also pending before the court.
As many as three personslost their lives – Vidyadevi Chowkani (74) at Police Bazar on October 26, trader Bikash Nandwal (44) at Motphran on October 9 and Bisheshwar Kumar Das (50) at Bishnupur on November 16 – following petrol bomb attacks during the ILP agitation.
Sources said the murder cases are in evidence stage and the accused arrested in this connection have secured bail.
Asked if any of the pressure groups involved in the ILP movement have admitted to the crimes, sources replied in the negative and even added that the confessions made by the accused during interrogation by police does not hold much water as such confessions have to be made before the Court.
