Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Six students from Uttar Pradesh scrubbed the streets of Shillong on Friday, September 11. They joined the Jiva Cares Project Operation Clean-Up. This marked the final stage of a court-mandated community service stint. The group faced legal trouble after trashing a local homestay, leading to a registered FIR.
The Meghalaya High Court tossed the case once the students paid the owner 2.06 lakh rupees. They also gave an unconditional apology. Two students had to pay an extra 25,000 rupees each within a week. The court ordered those two to serve six days of community work. They started their penance on September 8 at the Sikh Centre Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Lachumiere.
The Friday cleanup session satisfied the remaining three days of their sentence. Project Operation Clean-Up keeps the city tidy by managing flower beds and waste bins. The public prosecutor must submit a report on the work. The court will check for full compliance on September 15. The students handled their chores quietly. A representative of the project noted, "The students were involved in the vandalism of the homestay, following which an FIR was registered against them."
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 2:00pm
The cleanup work specifically targeted the city centre.
Updated at 13th September 2026 at 10:16am
The community service schedule involves three different organizations. The youths serve three days at the Gurudwara, two days with Jiva Cares, and one day with Operation Clean Up. Volunteer leader Patricia Mukhim noted the youths worked hard during their shift from 10 am to 5 pm.
Court records reveal the Laitumkhrah Police Station filed the original FIR on July 11. The complaint stemmed from a dispute over property occupancy limits, which escalated into property damage and threats against the homestay manager. Of the six involved, three were minors at the time and one had recently turned 18. The remaining two students were in their 20s preparing for competitive exams.
Comments