Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court pulled the plug on the Nongpoh Women Police Station probe today. The case involves a minor girl who died by suicide after police questioning. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh issued the order after Anius Majhong, the girl's uncle, filed a petition. The court cited a clear conflict of interest in the case.
Officers at the Nongpoh station were investigating their own colleagues for violating the girl's rights. The bench ruled, "The officers who are under scrutiny and are alleged to have been involved in the incident belong to the same police station." To ensure fairness, the Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police must move the file to a different station. Senior officers will lead the new investigation while the accused are kept away from the case.
Security is tight. The court ordered the immediate seizure of all CCTV footage from both inside and outside the station for the period of 12 noon to 11 pm on June 22. This tape must be kept under a proper panchnama. The accused officers cannot contact the victim's family under any circumstances.
Legal lapses remain a major concern. The District Child Protection Officer must now explain if police followed mandatory protocols when they first brought the minor in for questioning. Additional Advocate General K Khan presented a preliminary report during the hearing. The Ri-Bhoi SP must appear in person when the court reconvenes on July 29.
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