By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The attack on Williamnagar police station has once again raised questions on the vulnerability of police stations in Meghalaya.
As per reports, a crude bomb which was lobbed inside the compound of the Williamnagar PS landed between two staff quarters causing damage to some window panes.
Despite being located in a vulnerable area, the height of the wall at Williamnagar PS had not been raised beyond the normal size. Improper lighting outside the police station and absence of CCTVs made things worse.
The cases of other police stations in the State are not much different and there are critics who point out that modernisation of the State Police force has been restricted to only purchase of vehicles while and police stations were not upgraded.
On July 2, 2012, the Lumdiengjri police station was attacked by suspected HNLC men numbering three to four armed with AK-47 rifles. Some of the bullets even entered the rooms of the police station.
Several years ago, at least three police personnel were killed when suspected HNLC cadres attacked the Rilbong police station.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi, the attacks on police stations, especially in the sensitive areas, are a
matter of grave concern.
“As impressed upon by the Chief Minister recently, there is an urgent need for deployment of additional forces,” he said.
Bakshi also mentioned that the lack of manpower in the police force is another reason for delays in handling cases. “With the recruitment process still on we hope this deficit could be tackled soon,” he said.
Commenting on the deplorable living conditions of the police personnel in the barracks, Bakshi said there is a need to provide decent living conditions to the policemen. The same was also observed by the Home Minister Roshan Warjri who assured to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that there are certain things in the pipeline as far as modernization of police stations is concerned. Goyal admitted that if proper attention is paid to the needs of the policemen, better services can be expected out of them.
Goyal said the recent attack is an eye-opener for the police department which has to be more vigilant while performing its duties.
While impressing upon the need to modernise police stations across the State, South Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Davis R Marak said that a proposal for the same had been forwarded to the State Government.
“We have proposed for upgradation of check posts to outposts and outposts to police stations. The need for better infrastructure and facilities to the policemen has also been emphasized upon,” Marak said while adding that “how soon the government can provide all this is yet to be known but we hope that certain things are already underway.”
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang while expressing concern over the recent attack said that initiatives have been taken to resist any such incident as far as his district and particularly Shillong is concerned.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our men,” Kharkrang said while adding that more initiatives are still on the pipeline.
The Additional DGP (Law and Order)-cum-Chief Co-ordinator for Security, Meghalaya, YC Modi said that upgradation of police stations and outposts is an ongoing process and there have been measures to check security of the police forces as well.
“Many steps have been taken by the government in this regard and talks have been going on between the Union and the State governments as far as modernization of police stations and deployment of additional forces is concerned,” Modi said.