By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Archery (teer) bookies of Meghalaya under the banner of the Hynniewtrep Archery Bookies Social and Cultural Association (HABSCA) on Thursday asked the State Government to form a committee to enquire into the recent scam unearthed in the teer business in the State while urging the government to curb the manipulations by the stewards (archers).
Expressing discontentment over the rampant manipulation in the teer business, the bookies have sought the intervention of the State Government to prevent corruption in the archery business.
“It is a known fact that the stewards are gaining more control of the teer business than us, the bookies, who actually pay them for their job,” HABSCA secretary Dennis Lyngdoh said on Thursday.
He alleged that these stewards are being paid by wealthy bookies to determine which number to go for and likewise. “The stewards are paid by wealthy bookies to manipulate the business by involving them in the making of numbers,” Lyngdoh said.
“The association cannot accept such irregularities as it disrupts the whole functioning of the teer business,” he added.
He also mentioned that earlier, such ‘makings’ were done by the organizers, the Khasi Hills Archery Sports Institute (KHASI), but at present the manipulations are being done by some wealthy bookies.
There are around 2635 licensed teer counters in the State and around 208 teer counters having NOC from the Dorbar Shnong are operating in the capital city, Lyngdoh said, adding that there were some people who were operate the teer counters without obtaining NOC from the Dorbar Shnong.
“We urge the government to ban these illegal counters which are operating without proper license,” Lyngdoh said.
Alleging that the department concerned remains blind to such anomalies, Lyngdoh said that the department is always ready to collect taxes from the counters but never looks into the concerns faced by them.
Lyngdoh also informed that the Association has apprised the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner of the anomalies unearthed through RTI and urged him to take remedial measures.