SHILLONG: Three tourists from Uttar Pradesh and three minors, apprehended in West Bengal after a high-profile vandalism incident at a Shillong homestay, have been granted bail by a West Bengal court.
Their release follows a swift multi-state operation by Meghalaya Police, who tracked down the group after they allegedly ransacked Oakwood Homestay in Risa Colony, threatened staff, and fled without paying for damages.
The legal development comes after a formal complaint was lodged on July 11.
According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, the suspects extensively damaged the property, issued threats to staff, and left without financial compensation. In response, police registered a case and dispatched a specialized team the next day to locate the suspects.
Utilizing inter-state intelligence, Meghalaya Police coordinated with the Superintendents of Police in Kokrajhar (Assam), Alipurduar (West Bengal), and the local Samuktala police team. This collaboration led to the group’s interception at Samuktala Police Station in Alipurduar district at around 4:45 PM yesterday.
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The three adults—Vikash Singh, Avinash Singh, and Akand Pratap Singh—were traveling with three 17-year-old minors, all from Uttar Pradesh.
A Meghalaya Police team traveled to West Bengal to take formal custody of the group. The adults were arrested and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alipurduar, where they were granted bail, as the offenses carry punishments below a seven-year prison term.
The minors were brought before the Juvenile Justice Board for separate legal processing.
The accused have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 351 Clause 3, Section 324 Clause 3, and Section 3 Clause 5.
SP Syiem clarified that while the suspects secured bail due to the nature of the charges, their arrests have been officially recorded. He emphasized that the Meghalaya Police investigation will continue aggressively, with a comprehensive chargesheet to be submitted to the court as soon as possible.
(4FrontMedia news)
