Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Police arrested four Hynniewtrep National Youth Front leaders on Friday for the public assault and shaming of senior advocate AH Hazarika. The accused, including the group's East Khasi Hills president and other officials, allegedly forced Hazarika to walk through the streets of Shillong with his hands on his ears. The viral footage sparked a widespread debate on vigilantism. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem confirmed a suo motu case was registered for criminal assault. The four men face court appearance on Saturday.
Hazarika remains under investigation for the alleged sexual molestation of a law intern at his Keating Road chamber on Tuesday. The intern reported that the incident occurred at 3:16 pm when the 65-year-old lawyer lured her into a room under the pretense of collecting case books. She escaped, but alleged he touched her inappropriately again upon her return. She also claimed Hazarika offered her ₹500 to stay quiet. Police have recorded Hazarika’s statement but declined to arrest him, citing Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita provisions for offenses carrying less than seven years of imprisonment.
The High Court of Meghalaya intervened, questioning why police allowed the public parading to occur. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh heard a petition detailing how officers allegedly stood by during the assault. The court noted: “Such lawlessness defeats the performance of the State’s duty and emboldens non-State actors to take law into their own hands, which cannot be permitted.” The court ordered the SP to appear on August 3 and mandated the seizure of all CCTV footage.
Separately, the Shillong Bar Association suspended Hazarika’s membership, labeling the alleged misconduct a breach of ethics. However, they also condemned the mob violence. “Such acts amount to taking the law into one’s own hands and are unacceptable as they undermine the rule of law and constitutional governance,” stated SBA secretary TL Jyrwa.
The High Court also flagged failing surveillance infrastructure across the state. A division bench revealed that 129 CCTV cameras in Shillong and 50 in Williamnagar are currently non-functional. The court ordered a detailed status report, noting that repair requests dating back to March 2026 remain unaddressed. Further hearings on the surveillance failures are set for August 20.
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