Editor
Through your esteemed column I would like to request the Chief Minister of Meghalaya to call in the Indian Army to deal with the KSU terrorism on Indian nationals at the earliest. The State Home Dept has time and time again proved to be a lame duck in handling issues of sectarian violence. Perhaps it is because they are morally unfit to discharge their duties when they have to act against their own people. In such a situation it will be best for the security of citizens to bring in the Indian Army and paramilitary forces for a limited period of time to wipe out terrorism just as it is done in other states. I would like to remind Dr. Mukul Sangma that it is his sworn duty to ensure the safety and security of all Indian nationals in Meghalaya, not just the indigenous population. A Meghalaya which is free of terrorist groups like KSU, HNLC, ANVC and GNLA is something which is in the interest of everybody. A logical first step should be to list the KSU as a banned organization and subsequently call in the army to deal with them.
Yours etc.,
Biswajit Momin
Shillong -3
Ugly hooliganism
Editor,
I make it a point to visit the web edition of your esteemed paper, The Shillong Times everyday to keep abreast of events there. Having been raised in Shillong I still think of it as “home” and will always do so. It was with profound grief that I read about the violence that took place on Thursday. It took me back to my school days where such incidents were routine and where we lost almost an entire school year because of the frequent strikes and bandhs. What shocked me more than anything was that this madness happened in Laitumkhrah, a locality which was largely peaceful even when other places like Mawlai and Mawprem were burning back in those days. I understand the gripe the KSU and others have against non-tribals. But this is hardly the way to go about making their point. It is all very well for the student leaders to “deny any involvement” in the events of Thursday and for Kong Ampareen to demand a probe. But what about the district administration? Who gave them permission to take out this procession at that time of day? What does our new Home minister have to say about such senseless acts of violence? What on God’s green earth were the police doing? And the less we ask our honorable Chief Minister the better. And what could those boys dressed in traditional attire have possibly been thinking when they went about assaulting innocent people? I bet they felt real good, real powerful when they beat up those tourists whose only fault was that they are non-tribal. I am deeply saddened by these events. I thought the KSU had long left behind the practices of the eighties and the early nineties. I guess progress and development is still a long way away from Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Raymond Lalmuana,
Via email
KSU’s Thursday road-show
Editor,
I deeply feel pity for those law-abiding citizens in the Khasi community for they have once again lost their good image with a single stroke of barbarism by a few hooligans of the KSU. It seems this outfit is still in deep slumber and is living in a cocoon shielded from the ground realities and yet they call themselves civilised. Truly, they are foolish.
Yours etc.,
PK Dutta
Shillong -3
Mindless violence
Editor,
Apropos the letter written by Ajay Sharma (ST April 5, 2013) in your esteemed paper, I support the statement made by the writer. He has vented out his anger against the overall law and order situation in Meghalaya. The non tribals are subjected to racism in everyday life in Meghalaya be it while applying for a job, admission in schools / colleges, applying for trade licenses, applying for EPIC / Ration card etc. We are subjected to humiliation as if we all are not citizens of India. I want to tell the NGOS that the Constitution of India has given the right to a citizen of India to reside in any part of the country. I am a proud Indian by birth not by accident.
The Government of Meghalaya and civil society is a mute spectator when such incidents happen. The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills erred by granting permission for such a rally in the heart of Shillong and that too in peak hours. Police department erred by not providing adequate security before, during and after the procession and they should be held accountable for failing to maintain law and order.
I appreciate the statement of Home Minister Ms Roshan Warjri and Ampareen Lyngdoh who had come out with strong statements denouncing the mindless violence. Hope we will see action from Government and a strong action by Dr. Mukul Sangma who is known to be a no nonsense public leader. It was published in your news paper that KSU said the purpose of observing this day was to, “create awareness among the indigenous people of the dangers facing the society.” I want to ask the KSU leaders whether what happened yesterday is part of Khasi Awakening. I am sure the great freedom fighters of Meghalaya would hang their heads in shame for such violence and ransacking.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Make Shillong a world-class brand
Editor,
I read The Shillong Times online, every now and then, from Bangalore or Bangkok –wherever I am – out of nostalgia. But today, I was appalled to read about a KSU-sponsored “Khasi National Awakening” procession turning violent on Thursday in various parts of the city. “We are Khasis by blood, Indians by Accident,” was a slogan I read almost 20 years back during my school days in Shillong. I was under the impression that the city has taken a U-turn since then. To my disappointment, Shillong appears stagnant and unchanged. Brought up in the lovely city of Shillong, I have always made a conscious effort to be a brand ambassador of my city, telling my friends in the Indian metros that Shillong is like the metro of the North East. I have assured them that they would be safe in that city whenever and wherever they wish to go. But, such disgusting incidents make me doubt if I was correct in my thinking and if I should let my friends visit the city, at all.
The KSU must realise that many of their bright students have come out of their cocooned environments to other parts of India and such incidents will come back in the form of violence to the Khasi students living outside. It will only ruin the already ruined name of Shillong and the North East. Therefore, I urge the KSU and everyone concerned to realise that a city can grow only if it learns to embrace the “outsiders” and Bangalore is the perfect example of this. Last year, when thousands of North Eastern students fled Bangalore due to rumours concerning their safety, all state associations stood united in helping the people from the NE. The Karnataka Home Minister personally travelled to Assam to call them back. This reflects the state’s attitude and that reflects back in the prosperity of the state. A city attracts the people it needs. Shillong is what it is today because of all the people living there regardless of whether they are Khasis or non-Khasis. I am not a Khasi by blood, but a Shillongite at heart and an Indian forever. Let’s make Shillong the world-class brand it deserves to be and not get swayed by communal issues that lead us to doom.
Yours etc.,
Ayushman Baruah
Bangalore