The Meghalaya High Court has acquitted one of the two men convicted in the 2014 murder of Prodis Nangbah, holding that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement beyond reasonable doubt, while affirming the life sentence of the co-accused on the strength of child eyewitness testimony and medical evidence.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh delivered the verdict on July 15 while hearing two criminal appeals challenging the conviction and sentence imposed by the Sessions Judge, West Jaintia Hills, in March and April 2024.
The trial court had found Belting Tyngkra and Salbinal Nangbah guilty under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced both to life imprisonment. A third accused, Chalbinal, died during the course of the trial.
According to the prosecution, Prodis Nangbah was attacked at his residence in the early hours of May 6, 2014, after refusing to reopen his shop to sell cigarettes. His son and daughter, who were inside the house, witnessed the assault and later testified during the investigation and trial.
While dismissing Salbinal Nangbah’s appeal, the High Court held that the children’s testimony was credible and supported by medical evidence. The Bench observed that there had been “no cross-examination with respect to the actual assault” and described the eyewitness accounts as trustworthy and reliable.
Rejecting the defence’s objection over the absence of a Test Identification Parade, the court noted that Salbinal was known to both children as he belonged to the same village. It also ruled that identification in candlelight was believable despite the lack of electricity because the accused was already familiar to the witnesses.
The Bench further rejected the argument that the children were interested witnesses, stating that they were natural witnesses as they had been present during the incident. It found no evidence suggesting they had any reason to falsely implicate Salbinal.
However, the court found the evidence against Belting Tyngkra insufficient. It noted that the deceased’s son neither named nor identified him, while the daughter also failed to identify him before the court. Holding that the prosecution had failed to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the Bench set aside his conviction.
The High Court directed that Belting be released immediately if he is not wanted in any other case and ordered the refund of any fine paid by him. It also instructed the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, West Jaintia Hills, to submit a report within eight weeks on whether the trial court’s recommendation to award ₹3 lakh compensation to the victim’s family has been implemented. The matter has been listed for compliance on September 3, 2026.
