Shillong, Aug 13: The High Court of Meghalaya has left it to the trial court to complete the task within six months on the death of former Patharkhmah officer-in-charge late PJ Marbaniang who had seized 32 coal-laden trucks in January 2015.
He was found dead with bullet injury on his head at his official quarters after the incident.
The court on Thursday disposed of the petition filed by the late mother of the police officer by saying that the trial should resume immediately.
“No observation here should prejudice or influence the trial court in any manner whatsoever as the object of the present exercise was completely different. It is hoped that the trial resumes immediately and the matter is brought to its logical conclusion in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible and, preferably, within six months from date”, the court said
The court hoped that the compensation due on account of the untimely
and unnatural death of the concerned official was paid in accordance with law to the persons entitled thereto.
State owes apology to late mother
“At the end of the day, it cannot be lost sight of that a young police officer, who may not have agreed with the manner in which the illegal coal mining activities were being continued, lost his life. There can be nothing but sympathy for the family, including an apology on behalf of the State to the now deceased mother of the officer for the State having failed to protect him adequately”, the court observed.
Officer pulled the trigger
However, the court said upon going through the material it does not appear that the gun-shot injury that killed the official was fired by any person other than the officer himself.
“On the basis of the material produced and upon it being gleaned for any anomalies, it cannot be said as to who or what may have pushed the officer to such desperation or impelled him to take his life. It is for the trial court to endeavour to unearth the truth in such regard”, the court said.
