Tura, May 27: The West Garo Hills District Police has clarified that only a single FIR has been registered in connection with the alleged vandalism incident that took place at Chibinang on March 9, 2026.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Abraham T. Sangma, stated that a joint FIR was filed on March 18, 2026, by the Joint Secretary of the GSU Chibinang Regional Unit and the General Secretary of the GSU Phulbari Regional Unit against former MLA of 46-Phulbari Constituency, S.G. Esmatur Mominin, over alleged criminal activities linked to the incident.
The complaint also alleged vandalism of the GSU office and a statue at Chibinang Bazar.
Following the complaint, Phulbari Police Station Case No. 12/2026 was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with provisions of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act. Police informed that the accused persons have already been arrested and investigation into the matter is currently underway.
The district police further stated that another complaint related to the same incident was received from Bernard N. Marak on April 14, 2026. The complaint was subsequently forwarded to the Officer In-Charge of Phulbari Police Station for necessary action.
However, police clarified that since both complaints pertain to the same incident and facts, the complaint submitted by Marak has been treated as supplementary to the already registered Phulbari PS Case No. 12/2026.
Citing the Supreme Court judgment in T.T. Antony vs State of Kerala & Others (2001) 6 SCC 181, the police noted that multiple FIRs cannot ordinarily be registered for the same occurrence, and any subsequent information must be incorporated into the investigation of the original case.
The police also stated that all enquiries and investigations related to the incident are being conducted under the existing case in accordance with legal procedures. Necessary action, they added, will be taken against those found involved based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
The clarification was issued to prevent misunderstanding or confusion regarding the registration of multiple FIRs in connection with the Chibinang incident and to keep the public properly informed.
