The attempt to kill a tea vendor using petrol bomb in Shillong yesterday is a hate crime. It happened in broad daylight and there were several witnesses to the scene. But as is typical of this State and country not a single witness is willing to step forward and give evidence. Since police only arrived at the scene after the dastardly act was committed they will have to piece up bits of information which will not add up to anything. Or the case may even fold up for want of clinching evidence. Those who said the perpetrators were masked should have been able to give more information about which side the murderers took off after committing the crime. Such incidents are not new to Shillong. They started in 1979 and continue in an insidious manner. They are communal crimes as they are only aimed at the non-tribal vendors and business people. They cannot be treated as simple IPC cases. Preventive detention is necessary and bail provisions must be more stringent to deal with such hate crimes. Perhaps some kind of Goonda Act is now necessary else we will have repeats of such targeted and selective killings in Shillong and elsewhere in the State.
Hate crime is where a person or group of persons are prejudiced against an identifiable group of people such as ethnic minorities and that is what makes them decide who they choose as their victim. A hate crime is an extreme manifestation of prejudice and discrimination and it can have devastating effect on victims and on whole communities. The non-tribal community in Shillong has been living in a state of fear and trepidation of what might happen next. What harm can a tea vendor do? He is earning an honest living. But perhaps there are people who wish to free-load and he stood against that. Across the city those who are perceptive have notice that these days extortion by sundry groups has started and all in the name of the Inner Line Permit. Young people go and eat at a place and when it’s time to pay they threaten and shout, “Long live ILP.” So is there any rule of law left in Meghalaya? Or are police just fire-fighting without any clear strategy?
The fact that yesterday’s victim is fighting for his life with 40% burn injuries and the perpetrators are still at large probably celebrating their victory, is very disconcerting for law abiding citizens. Might it not happen that since police are unable to help, so those who can afford to might create their own militias or carry a gun? Citizens cannot remain sitting ducks forever!