Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) general secretary Reuben Najiar was granted 14 days’ interim bail by a sessions court in Shillong on September 17 following the death of his father. Najiar, who was in judicial custody, was released on interim bail until October 1 and directed to surrender before the court on that date.
Najiar was arrested on August 19 along with KSU president Raymond Kharjana and vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet following violence during a KSU-sponsored black-flag bike rally in Shillong. The rally witnessed stone-pelting and incidents of vandalism.
The three accused were produced before the court several times as police continued investigations into cases registered at different police stations. Additional charges were later brought in connection with cases registered at Sadar and Mawlai police stations, followed by another case at Rynjah.
Three other KSU leaders — Jeremiah Pohthmi, Samuel Kharbani and Banjop Dkhar — were also arrested in connection with the violence, taking the number of KSU leaders arrested in the cases to six.
The latest arrest before Najiar’s bail was that of the KSU Shillong East Circle president, who was taken into custody by a Special Investigation Team near NEIGRIHMS on September 11 and produced before a local court the following day.
The August 19 rally had received permission from the East Khasi Hills district administration. Police later registered cases over the violence and damage reported during the event.
