Editor
In the midst of the raging debate around declaration of Garo Hills as a Disturbed Area, the law and order situation on the ground has only worsened. There has been a steep climb in killings, kidnappings and extortion rates in the past one month. All manner of criminals – armed extremists, “surrendered” extremists, student union leaders, rogue policemen and politicians are running amok torturing, maiming, killing, kidnapping, extorting and threatening people on a daily basis. Going by news and eyewitness reports, I personally feel the term “War Zone” would be a better fit than “Disturbed Area”. But who am I to disagree with PJP Hanaman, the experienced policeman who claims Garo Hills is a law-abiding region controlled by efficient policemen? Anybody who disagrees would automatically be branded a liar since, as our DGP has famously announced, no matter what they do, the public will never be satisfied with the police. Words of wisdom indeed! But has any wisdom been shown in catching criminals the old-fashioned way instead of paying them off at the behest of politicians? And why do leaders of these extremist gangs always have a “narrow escape” from the clutches of police, as reported in newspapers? How are extremist leaders able to maintain their lifestyles, throw parties, hobnob with politicians, and enjoy the comforts of home under the very noses of the police? Is there some kind of drama being enacted by police and extremists to hide the truth? These are questions that need immediate answers. I request PJP Hanaman to stop pulling the wool over our eyes and give us the plain truth. Let him state his success rate in Garo Hills in black and white, with (verifiable) facts and figures as opposed to rumours and hearsay. Let him analyze his failures and present them openly in the same manner. If he performs this task honestly, there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind about how the situation should be tackled – by calling up the army, or using the existing resources. Otherwise, I fear the DGP may find himself holding the short end of the stick once the truth gets out in the open.
Yours etc.,
Andrew J. Kharshiing
Shillong-1
Govt’s double standards
Editor,
The special article of 7th July 2014 “A hole by any name still smells a rat” by H. H. Mohrmen countering the Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri’s stance on the NGT coal mining ban makes delightful reading on how Government toys with public explanation in defence of their duplicity. Going by what has been stated by the CS in his press briefing, it is difficult to digest that a person of his calibre and integrity would be viewed as just another stooge of the Government. We the public are well aware of every Government’s ploy to please the rich and unworthy famous who would wield money power to keep their goose laying golden eggs for eternity, unmindful of the destruction being wrought on the fragile environment. As a matter of fact, can the citizens of this State have faith in whosoever runs the Government, to deliver on their good governance commitment? All too evident with every passing decade is the factual degradation of living standards in Meghalaya and no one in the Government of today or in the future can strive to correct the deliberate mismanagement of governance that will always remain the forte of the leaders we elect, be they in or out of power. So much is being written on the fallout of the NGT ban on rat-hole mining but the powerful and the moneybags see only one view and that is to keep the moolah rolling in come what may. For the people at large, it will forever be murmuring and dissent only for your voices are not the concern of those that we have elected to rule.
Yours etc.,
Lewis Sooting,
Via email