SHILLONG: Besides amending the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act, the State Government on Friday also introduced amendment to Indian Penal Code in the Assembly to take on the sponsors of the current agitation over the issue of ILP.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Law, Rowell Lyngdoh, introduced the Criminal Laws (Meghalaya Amendment) Bill, 2013, which will have provisions to make criminal intimidation and threat to cause death or grievous injury as cognizable and non-bailable offences.
There were a number of attempts to target shopkeepers and torch public and private properties during the agitation of the NGOs demanding implementation of ILP in the State.
While the punishment for criminal intimidation is imprisonment for three years or fine or both, if the threat is to cause death, injury or destruction of property, the imprisonment of three years can extend to seven years, or fine, or both.
Giving reasons for the stand taken by Government, the Law Minister said that since law and order is of primary importance to the State, the Government after due examination considers that Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, are required to be made cognizable and non-bailable through amendment of the relevant section and such other provisions of laws as may be required.
Lyngdoh said that though Section 506 IPC is non-cognizable and bailable, since 1979, the Government through notification from time to time has made this as cognizable and non- bailable due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the State.
Lyngdoh also introduced two amendments to the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act for incorporation of Assessment Authority to assess the destruction and loss of public property and also for designating one Judicial Officer to try the cases under the Act.