SHILLONG: A shocking incident at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong on November 17 evening has now been officially classified as an ‘attempt to murder’, not a mere road accident.
The police have booked the accused drunk driver under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to murder, noting that the spot was well-lit and the road was wide, making the circumstances suspicious. Investigators are also looking into whether there was any prior connection between the driver and the victims.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, said the severity of the act, the condition of the victims, the visibility of the road, and the driver’s level of intoxication leave little room to call this an accident. Two female students were critically injured after being struck and dragged by a speeding vehicle driven by an inebriated security guard.
According to police, the incident occurred around 7:30 PM near the NEHU Gate No. 2. The victims—Daritngen Pohdukhei and Stefanie Shadap, both from the Chemistry Department—sustained grievous injuries. They were first taken to Civil Hospital before being shifted to Nazareth Hospital due to the seriousness of their condition. Both of them are still in the ICU.
SP Vivek Syiem informed that the driver has been identified as Parmen M. Sangma, a security guard at NEIGRIHMS who resides in the NEHU Barracks.
“The police have arrested him and seized the vehicle he was using. After examination, it was found that he was heavily inebriated and unfit to drive,” he said.
CCTV footage from the campus reportedly shows a black Maruti car speeding before it hit a scooty and dragged the two young women as they were returning from the library to their hostel. The NEHU Gate and the vehicle itself also sustained damage.
Among the two victims, Stefanie Shadap is conscious but suffering from severe pain in her head and neck and has internal head injuries, her father said, urging authorities to ensure strong punishment. Daritngen Pohdukhei remains unconscious and is in extremely critical condition with major injuries to her head and leg.
Meanwhile, the North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has demanded stringent action against the accused and highlighted the urgent need for placement of speed breakers, both inside and outside the university campus – especially near all NEHU gates.
The accused will be produced in court today as police seek custody. The case has once again brought to the forefront the urgent need to strengthen enforcement against drunk driving and ensure stringent penalties to safeguard public safety.
