Shillong, Sept 2: The Meghalaya High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation into the violence, vandalism and assaults that followed a rally in Shillong on August 19 observing that the police should have stopped the procession after participants allegedly breached the conditions imposed for its permission.
A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh, hearing a suo motu PIL (PIL No. 16/2026), on Tuesday directed the police to step up the investigation and identify those involved in the violence.
The court was informed that 22 FIRs had so far been registered — four at Shillong Sadar Police Station, nine at Rynjah, seven at Mawlai, one at Laitumkhrah and one at Lumdiengjri.
Four persons, all office-bearers of the KSU, had been arrested, the court was told. Police had also seized two vehicles allegedly involved in the incidents, collected call detail records of eight suspected mobile numbers and obtained CCTV footage from 27 locations for analysis.
The bench, however, said it was “not happy” with the manner in which the investigation was progressing.
According to the court, the procession should not have been allowed to proceed after participants allegedly violated conditions attached to the police permission. The court noted that participants were wearing masks or covering their faces despite an undertaking by organisers that they would not do so.
The court also pointed to an alleged violation of the condition prohibiting participants from carrying sticks, lathis or dangerous weapons. It further noted that vehicle registration numbers had been covered during the rally.
The bench observed that had the police stopped the procession at the outset for violating the permission conditions, the subsequent destruction of vehicles and property and assaults on people might have been prevented.
The court also sought clarity on whether the procession had been videographed from its starting point and whether police had complied with directions issued by the Supreme Court in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v Union of India relating to mob violence.
It further asked whether any police officer had intervened or attempted to stop the rally, assaults or damage to property at any point.
Expressing further concern, the bench questioned how police had identified only four suspects when “hundreds of miscreants” were allegedly involved in the procession.
The court directed the police to identify those responsible at the earliest and take the investigation to its logical conclusion, stressing that those who assaulted people or damaged property should not be spared.
An SIT has meanwhile been constituted under the leadership of Inspector General of Police Marak. The court directed that its observations be brought to the attention of the SIT chief so that prompt steps could be taken to identify those involved in the violence.
The court said the SIT should identify those responsible for what it described as the paralysing of the city, vandalisation of statues, damage to property and assaults on members of the public.
The Inspector General of Police, the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, and the officers-in-charge of Shillong Sadar and Lumdiengjri police stations have been asked to remain present at the next hearing.
The police have also been directed to submit a fresh status report on the investigation.
The matter will be heard next on September 7.
