SHILLONG, India, May 1 -- Meghalaya High Court issued the following judgment/order on April 1:

1. Heard Mr. Th. Rakesh Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner/accused, who has submitted that an FIR was lodged on 03.03.2026 before the Officer-in-Charge, Ladrymbai Police Outpost, Ladrymbai by one Shri. Dawanoo Rymbai, the contents of such information being that, on the said date, there was a spot inspection of a disputed land between two villages i.e. Lama Village and Lakadong Ummat Village in East Jaintia Hills District, wherein, the residents of both villages have gathered at the said place of inspection. In the midst of such inspection, it was alleged that the petitioner/accused along with others present were armed with firearms, and ultimately, had opened fire on the gathering, as a result of which, three villagers of Lama Village were seriously injured.

2. Accordingly, on receipt of such information, an FIR was filed and a case was registered being Khliehriat P.S. Case No. 104 of 2026 under Section 109 BNS, 2023.

3. The learned counsel also submits that the petitioner/accused was not present when the said incident had taken place, since on the said date i.e. 03.03.2026, he was attending to his ailing mother at Woodland Hospital, Nangbah, West Jaintia Hills District, and also on the said date, he had visited a doctor for his personal treatment, for which medical prescription was issued to him, the same being annexed as Annexure-4 in this petition. However, the learned counsel would submit that, the allegation that some of the eye-witnesses had seen him at the place of occurrence on the said date of incident, is not correct.

4. It is also the submission of the learned counsel that, because of the fact that he was said to be involved in the said incident, therefore, the police are on the lookout to arrest him, hence the apprehension of imminent arrest.

5. The learned counsel further submits that the petitioner/accused, being a school teacher with a strong societal standing, if arrested, his reputation would suffer which will cause prejudice to him. He therefore submits that the petitioner/accused, if released on bail, will abide by any conditions that this Court may impose. It is also submitted that the petitioner/accused on interim bail being granted to him by this Court, as directed, had appeared before the Investigating Officer on two occasions, and his statement was recorded.

6. Per contra, Mrs. N.G. Shylla, learned Sr. GA assisted by Mr. H. Abraham, learned GA appearing for the State respondent, has strongly opposed the prayer made, and has contended that the investigation carried out by the Investigating Officer as far as the petitioner/accused is concerned, would confirm that his plea of alibi cannot be sustained, inasmuch as, on being directed by this Court to make a detailed inquiry on this aspect of the matter, the Investigating Officer has filed the status report dated 01.04.2026 before this Court today, the same is brought on record and marked as Annexure-X. It has been stated that the Investigating Officer, had visited the said doctor, who has allegedly treated the petitioner/accused, and who is said to have issued the said medical prescription.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=I1mmm2bl4r4EREhYK63KvyveRW7mNwhXh9O5O0sfDYg4Vbv53oRPtCafhsC%2F2QON&caseno=AB/1/2026&cCode=1&cino=MLHC010002592026&state_code=21&appFlag=)

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