SHILLONG, MAY 16: A lower court on Friday granted bail to former Phulbari legislator Esmatur Mominin in connection with the Garo Hills unrest case, where he faces charges of spreading communal hatred.
Sessions Judge, Tura AM Ripnar enlarged the accused, SG Esmatur Mominin, on bail of Rs 80,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, sources said.
The court directed that the bail bond be executed before the JMFC, Phulbari Circuit Court, and added that “the bail petition stands disposed off.”
Two separate FIRs had been filed against Mominin by Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma and former South Tura legislator John Leslee Sangma.
While granting bail, the court imposed stringent conditions on the accused. He shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and before the Court in the event the case is chargesheeted.
The order further stated that he shall not abscond, hamper or tamper with evidence, or influence, threaten, or make any contact with the complainant or witnesses.
Mominin has also been barred from leaving the jurisdiction of the Court without prior permission and has been directed not to commit a similar offence in the future.
The court warned that “failure to comply with the above condition bail will be liable to be cancelled.”
It may be recalled that on April 13, 2026, Mominin surrendered before police in Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi, after “remaining absconding in connection with the law and order disturbances in Garo Hills region.” He had been on the run since violence and unrest erupted ahead of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections in March.
The controversy traces back to March 9, when Mominin arrived at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC polls.
His presence triggered tensions at the DC office premises, which quickly escalated into a law and order situation.
Later the same day, he allegedly delivered an inflammatory speech at Chibinang, further aggravating the situation and leading to widespread chaos in parts of Garo Hills.
Following these incidents, the situation deteriorated significantly, prompting authorities to cancel the GHADC elections amid security concerns.
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