From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh officially inaugurated the Shallang Police Station at Shallang on Friday.
DGP Kulbir Krishan, Joint Secy of Home VRS Syiem, DIG (Eastern Zone) A Sunamong others were present on the occasion.
The Shallang PS had been an unsanctioned police outpost since 1987 and was finally notified as a Police Station in January 2012. Since April 2012, it has been functioning as a full- fledged PS.
The PS has under its ambit, 2598 households, 15,500 local population, 20,000 migrant workers during coal season, 93 villages and vehicular traffic of over 3000 vehicles. It shares its border with South and East Garo Hills district in the west.
Famous for its rich coal- mines, Shallang is frequented by cadres of various militant outfits like the GNLA, ANVC, LAEF, NSCN etc. The coal- rich area lures these outfits to extort money from the businessmen there.
Presence of these outfits in the area has been felt since the last 15 years.
Likewise, the Shallang PS has been working tirelessly to provide security to the people and despite many constraints has been able to curtail militant activities in the area to a great extent.
Robert Sohbar, representing the Sohbar clan of the area said that it was a dream come true to have the PS notified by the state government. He said that the Sohbar clan had donated the land free of cost for the setting up of the PS in 1987. He also took the opportunity to request the Minister for other developmental works like creating Riangdo into a Civil Sub-Division, transforming Shallang to a C&RD Block and creating good academic infrastructure there while adding that people were willing to donate land for such projects.
Speaking on the occasion, DGP Krishan reminisced his tenure as the SP of West Khasi Hills in 1982. He said Shallang was peaceful then as the coal- mines were not yet explored. He told the people that in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, the police needed a helping hand from the people of the area. He informed that Shallang PS with its first Officer in-charge, D Mawlein, had come down heavily on the various outfits operating in the area.
HDR Lyngdoh congratulated the people on the inauguration. He said that in 1987, the state government had set up the outpost even without sanction as the area was beginning to lure militancy. Only last year during his visit, the people placed the request for the upgradation of the Outpost, HDR said. HDR reminded that he had assured to do so and on 11/01/2012, the order was passed. HDR said that during his tenure as Home Minister, he had inaugurated three PS and six Outposts.