SHILLONG, India, June 13 -- Meghalaya High Court issued the following judgment/order on May 12:

1. An FIR dated 03.03.2026 has been lodged before the Officer-inCharge, Ladrymbai Police Outpost, East Jaintia Hills District by two persons namely, Shri Dawanoo Rymbai, Waheh Shnong, Lama Village and Shri Charling Syrti, Secretary, Lama Village.

2. The contents of the FIR speak of a dispute between two villages i.e. Lama Village and Lakadong Ummat Village in the East Jaintia Hills District, indicating therein that two groups of villagers of these respective villages are involved in such dispute, which land is the subject matter of acquisition by the concerned authorities for construction of a Four Lane expressway.

3. From the FIR, it is also revealed that the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, had fixed 03.03.2026 as the date for spot inspection of the said disputed land for the purpose of acquiring land for construction of Four Lane expressway. Accordingly, at about 10:30 - 11:00 am or so, a number of people were present there. Some of those present, specifically named in the said FIR, have been alleged to have come to the spot armed with firearms and proceeding towards the crowd and resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in three of the villagers of Lama village sustaining injuries on their bodies, for which they had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Accordingly, the police have registered the FIR as Khliehriat P.S. Case No. 104 (3) 2026 under Section 109/118(2)/191(3)/61(2)/132/3(5) BNS, read with Section 27 Arms Act.

4. Heard Ms. A.D. Syiem, learned counsel for the petitioner, who has submitted that the petitioner is one of those persons named in the FIR, however, it is categorically stated herein that the petitioner was not present at the place of occurrence on the said date, since he was at Ladrymbai to purchase food items required by him to set up his tea stall at the venue of a football match programme in the village of Lakadong Ummat, schedule to be held on 04.03.2026, for which permission was given to him to do so, and as stated on 03.03.2026, he was at Ladrymbai for the said purpose, and therefore, could not have been present at the place of occurrence (PO).

5. The learned counsel has submitted that a false allegation has been made against him in the FIR dated 03.03.2026 with the purpose to stigmatize him, and also to cause irreparable harm to his dignity and standing as a responsible member of the society, as such, being apprehensive of imminent arrest, he has preferred this instant application with a prayer for grant of anticipatory bail.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=I1mmm2bl4r4EREhYK63Kv3WNc8eKSONfAMZ9WPGV0lBBhKJqlkiF0YAQwuCtc%2Bxp&caseno=AB/14/2026&cCode=1&cino=MLHC010006652026&state_code=21&appFlag=)

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