Jailbreak probe extended

Shillong, May 29 : Justice S.P. Rajkhowa inquiry commission probing the Shillong jailbreak has been given one more extension of six months to complete the probe.

The previous extension was till May this year and as there was a delay on the part of the commission to submit the report, further extension was necessary.

On May 31, 2009, seven undertrials of a gang, including its leader Full Moon Dhar, escaped from Shillong jail. The next day, Dhar was shot dead by Meghalaya police in Jaintia Hills, the manner of which sparked allegations of a fake encounter.

The suspicion was strengthened after the other undertrial prisoners on being recaptured claimed that Dhar was killed in a fake encounter. Dhar’s girlfriend Evatiplang Kharkongor named some politicians who allegedly assisted Dhar in the jailbreak.

The former superintendent of police of Jainitia Hills, M.K. Singh, was questioned today. He said he did not remember what Dhar was wearing during the encounter.

He also admitted that the police team was given monetary awards for killing the escapee.

Asked why he did not follow the NHRC guidelines while carrying out the encounter.

Singh said investigation has never revealed that it was a murder.

“I had even requested the police headquarters to carry out a CID probe into the matter”, he added.

The cross-examination of Singh will continue tomorrow.