Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court tossed out an FIR against six Uttar Pradesh students caught vandalizing a Shillong homestay. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere greenlit the dismissal Monday after a private settlement.
The trouble started July 11 at a Laitumkhrah property. Staff denied extra guests beyond room capacity. The students broke property and threatened the manager. Police tracked the group to West Bengal. They arrested all six on July 13.
The group consists of three minors aged 15, 17, and 17. One student recently turned 18. Two others are in their 20s studying for competitive exams. The court weighed their futures against the damage caused. Justice Dere noted the victims offered no objection to dropping the case.
Under the August 17 deal, the group paid Rs 2.06 lakh in compensation and offered an apology. The court added a final price tag. "The High Court, taking into consideration the future and welfare of the students and the settlement between the parties, found no impediment to quashing the FIR." Two students must cough up an extra Rs 25,000 each within seven days.
Those two also face six days of manual labor. They report to the Sikh Centre Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Lachumiere from September 8. They will work 10 am to 5 pm under Dr. Kamaljeet Singh. Next, they join Jiva Cares at Project Operation Clean-Up. This involves river work and city maintenance. The other four students avoided labor duty due to their age. A compliance report is due September 15.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 6:16am
Court records identify the case as Laitumkhrah P.S. Case No. 99 of 2026, filed under Sections 351(3), 324(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The incident actually occurred on July 10, when the group initially checked in. The six students are all cousins. One of the adults is a first year B.Com student. The vandalism involved a damaged door, stained furnishings, soiled walls, and a wash-basin filled with waste.
While three students were arrested on July 13, the Juvenile Justice Board released the three minors the same day. The two students assigned community service must complete their payment via NEFT or RTGS.
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