Editor
In the news capsule of The Shillong Times Dated 7th February 2013, it was reported that the West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police has issued a communiqué directing all gun licence holders in the District to deposit their licensed arms at the nearest police station in view of the ensuing Assembly election.
It is a direction which has to be issued and which I presume that the SP himself will conclude that by all standards will not serve much purpose. In a district supposedly affected by militancy, it would be the height of absurdity to expect that the members of the militant groups would carry licensed arms purchased on licences duly issued by the District Administration and likewise it would be preposterous to expect militants to conform to the directive like law abiding citizens would.
Leaving aside the reports of our police force encounters with militants we also see occasional reports of encounters with “unidentified gunmen” who commit crimes in other parts of the state. The distinct possibility of getting away from the arms of the law somehow makes these unidentified gunmen, who are suspected to possess illegal arms, bold enough to act with impudence. Such people will not think twice before they commit such crimes because in the absence of records with the government , the risk of their being traced out is very remote.
Therefore genuine arms license holders wonder as to how depositing of their licensed arms can check the potential threats from these unauthorised arms holders during the elections. Incidentally all genuine arms licence holders need to go through the thorough process of verification of their character and antecedents by the District Administrations before they are considered eligible to be given such a license.
Therefore to expect likely threats from them after all these years and before every elections would defy all logic of granting them a licence in the first place Surely it is not expected that such people would suddenly draw their guns and create a “gunfight at O.K corral “like situation during elections and then fade away with the setting sun after that.
In the meantime, my heart goes out to those who reside in the interior places and whose sole purpose of acquiring licensed arms is to protect their families and their crops from wild animals and other threats . It will be anxious days and sleepless nights for them while their guns gather dust at the police stations.
Yours etc.,
K.L.Tariang
Are we ready for the Space Storm?
Editor,
I do follow technology news a lot, and in 2010, NASA had warned about a possible “Huge Space Storm” occurring this year (http://goo.gl/8VjFD also http://goo.gl/3IsdM). Such a huge space storm was recorded in 1859 in which all telegraph systems were knocked out.
What will happen if the Space Storm hits the earth this year? Well, it won’t kill us, but, it will knock off every electrical/electronic system. In this technology age, our daily life depends on electricity and innumerable electronic devices. In hospitals, offices, banking, communication, we all depend on electricity and electronic devices. Now, if all the power grids are knocked off, our communication system (mobile, internet) will be dead, and our banking system will be offline, what will happen to us? In the western countries, the Government is gearing up to prevent a major black out. What about our Government? Aren’t we supposed to be ready, be aware, be prepared?
Yours etc.,
F Diengdoh,
Via email
Motive behind hanging the Guru
Editor,
After the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Mohammed Afzal Guru’s hanging, the question to hang or not to hang him did not at all arise. The question that arose was: Who would gain out of the death of the Guru? Now that the terror Guru is hanged to death, the cat is out of the bag. By the way, what would have India benefited if it had spared the life of Mohammed Afzal Guru? Would not those in the seat of power lose their face? Is anything worth more than your name, fame, power and wealth? Politicians should hold office to serve the people, not to take pleasure in power. When a seat is used for pleasure or prestige rather than as a means to serve, the whole society becomes infested with corruption, lacks growth, and undergoes moral degradation. Fear and insecurity grip the society and paralyze the humanness. It is natural for human beings to want to overcome fear and insecurity and they will do almost anything to feel secure. No wonder there is struggle for the seat of power. It goes without saying that those who hanker after power are really powerless. They can accomplish very little even after coming into office. So don’t blame them. The irony is that even after assuming the seat of power, the fear doesn’t leave. In fact, it increases manifold.
The main motivating factor for people is their emotions, especially when illiteracy is high as in India. This is misused by political parties and religious leaders for short-term gains as in the present case of hanging. Needless to say that a ruler is not a reformer and a reformer doesn’t rule.
Yours etc.,
Omar Luther King
Delhi – 34
