Shillong, Jan 9: Police have started a probe into the assault of an Army Major by the army personnel during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Ri Bhoi in November last year.
A police official from Ri Bhoi informed on Thursday that since a case was registered following the FIR filed by the victim, police are bound to investigate into the matter.
“The police team was busy with the visit of the VIPs to ICAR, Umiam and hence we could not speed up the investigation though a case was registered’, the official added.
Sources, however, said that there are concerns as to why inquiry proceedings have been stagnant so far while indicating that the Army is into damage control mode.The scope of the army inquiry is unclear, the incident and aftermath including criminality of actions must be investigated, the sources added.
According to sources, an inquiry made of limited scope regarding the incident of assault could only be classified as an eyewash.
The sources alleged that the higher ranking officers mentioned in the FIR continue to influence a fair investigation.
The nature of the investigation,its composition and transparency would be in considerable scrutiny considering the fact that instances of bias,passivity and undue influence have been observed even before the investigation, the sources added.
