Shillong, March 22: The Meghalaya High Court on Friday directed investigation into unnatural death of a police trainee from Assam undergoing training at the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) in Umiam be concluded by May 31.
The court was quite perplexed to hear that the investigation could not be completed after three years of the incident, due to which no charge-sheet had been filed.
Police authorities informed that the investigation is still continuing. A criminal case has been started.
Disposing of a writ petition filed by Birendra Pandit, a bench headed by Chief Justice IP Mukerji said that the Court is not minded to interfere with the criminal proceedings. “Nevertheless, considering the special facts of this case, this Court directs that the investigation must be positively concluded by 31st May, 2025, resulting in the filing of the charge-sheet before the learned trial court,” the bench said.
“Thereupon, the learned trial court will proceed with the trial in accordance with law and as expeditiously as the business of the court permits. This writ is, accordingly disposed of,” it added.
It may be mentioned that the incident had happened on March 9, 2022. According to one version, the police trainee from Assam drowned in a swimming pool in the Academy. According to the victim’s family, which lodged the First Information Report (FIR), there were 29 policemen near the victim and that the case of drowning by accident is not to be accepted.
The family has demanded a full-fledged investigation, identification of the accused and framing of charge against them followed by a speedy criminal trial.
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