Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya resumes a suo motu public interest litigation today regarding the assault of advocate AH Hazarika. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh ordered East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem to appear in court for the proceedings. The judges want answers. They expressed grave concern over the police failure to stop the attack.
Hazarika was dragged from his Keating Road chamber and forced to walk to the Sadar Police Station. The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association filed a joint petition detailing the incident. Viral social media footage showed the lawyer being forced to hold his ears while walking through city streets. The court observed that police let non-state actors take the law into their own hands.
The Division Bench stated during Friday's hearing, "If personnel were present at the scene, they should have intervened immediately to prevent the assault and maintain order."
Four members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front remain in custody. A District and Sessions Judge remanded them to 14 days of judicial time on Saturday. Those arrested include the group's East Khasi Hills president, the Laban Circle president, the general secretary, and the organising secretary.
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