Shillong, Jan 22: The Court of the Session Judge, East Khasi Hills district has acquitted an individual accused of making anti-national statements related to the Pahalgam terror, last year.
The Court of Judge DR Kharbteng said before an FIR was filed under Section 113 of BNS, no prior decision of the Superintendent of Police was obtained, coupled with the fact that no sanction was obtained to prosecute the accused under Section 196(1)(a)/147 BNS.
“The trial stands vitiated and the accused is hereby discharged from the liabilities of the case,” the Court said.
The accused person, Simon Shylla of Umlyngka, Mawsyiem was directed to pay a bail bond of Rs. 5,000 with one surety.
Shylla was arrested by the special cell of the East Khasi Hills police on April 24, 2025 after he allegedly posted anti-national comments on a video aired by a TV news channel, Northeast Live News.
Police had said that the accused through his Facebook account named, ‘Man Shylla’ made the comments by supporting the terrorists in their killing and exhorting terrorists to initiate such attacks on a particular community in the North East, threatening the unity and integrity of the country.
SS Das, Public Prosecutor, submitted that the investigation reveals the involvement of the accused person. Das argued that there is prima facie material to frame charge against the accused under section 113(3)/196(1) (a)/147 BNS.
Defence counsel, DG Pyngrope, submitted before the court that apart from the social media post, there is no material to link the accused to any terrorist activities.
The defence counsel submitted that none of the acts as mentioned in Section 113(3) BNS has been committed by the accused person. He argued that Section 113 BNS is pari materia to Section 18 of the UA (P) Act.
