Shillong: Police in Shillong opted against arresting senior advocate AH Hazarika following allegations of sexual molestation filed by a law intern. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem confirmed the move on Thursday. Officers served a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita instead of making an arrest. The law discourages detaining suspects for crimes carrying less than seven years of prison time.
Hazarika faces a maximum three-year sentence. He is 65 years old. Police have already recorded his statement as the investigation continues. The intern filed an FIR at Sadar Police Station after the alleged incident at Keating Road on Tuesday. She claimed the advocate followed her at 3:16 pm while she retrieved case books, grabbed her, and touched her inappropriately. She broke free, returned, and was again touched. She further alleged Hazarika tried to pay her 500 rupees to stay silent. She left the money and fled.
Meanwhile, the High Court of Meghalaya steps in. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere will hear a petition Friday regarding the vigilante parading of the lawyer. Viral footage showed a mob forcing Hazarika to walk through city streets with his hands on his ears. The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association raised grave concern over the incident. The Shillong Bar Association joined the condemnation, suspending Hazarika while launching a formal inquiry.
SBA secretary TL Jyrwa denounced 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,” Jyrwa said. The legal community fears such outbursts damage the integrity of the justice system.
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