Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya dismissed an appeal from Millingstone Khardewsaw. He will serve 24 years in prison. The court upheld his conviction for the 2016 sexual assault of his 10-year-old stepdaughter. A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh issued the ruling on October 29. They found no reason to change the May 6, 2021, judgment from the Special Judge of South West Khasi Hills.
Evidence remains solid. The survivor’s testimony held up. Doctors and the girl’s mother corroborated her account, while medical records confirmed the assault. Khardewsaw previously confessed to the crime before a Judicial Magistrate. He never retracted that statement. The bench condemned his actions, noting that the appellant "had breached the relationship of trust with his stepdaughter and taken undue advantage of her when his wife was not at home." The court ordered the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority to report within six weeks on the distribution of Rs 3 lakh in compensation to the victim.
Elsewhere, government news shifts. Grade-I employees and pensioners no longer need Finance Department clearance for medical air travel. The state also prepared for festive and cultural events. East Khasi Hills officials briefed firecracker dealers on safety for Diwali. Meanwhile, a raid in Urkaliar targeted illegal liquor sales. In Nongpoh, the Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation honored 29 top-performing students. Finally, the Arts and Culture department will hold a festival at the State Central Library in Shillong on November 3 and 4.
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