Editor,
I write this letter in response to the news report that appeared in The Shillong Times on July 1, 2014, under the Caption ” LPG agencies asked to comply with DC’s orders”, whereby the DC had asked to bring to his notice any violation of rules set by the government in LPG distribution. I am a LPG consumer of M/S Sunny Indane Agency of Pohkseh. On June 20, last they distributed LPG cylinders in Jail road, where they charged Rs. 450 per cylinder instead of Rs. 446. When some consumers protested, the driver of the vehicle, who also issues/ delivers the LPG cylinders rudely asked them to go to the DC and complain about this. Moreover they charged Rs.30 to Rs. 60 extra for home delivery. Therefore consumers had to pay Rs. 500 for one cylinder instead of Rs. 446 per cylinder. I hope the DC would take note of this and ensure that the erring agencies, in this case ” M/S Sunny Indane Agency” does not extort money from the poor hapless consumers. I would also request other consumers to bring these anomalies to the notice of the DC, so that they do not suffer silently.
Yours etc.,
A K Dhar
Via email
Govt employees at wits end
Editor,
As a Government official, who has spent a long time in the Garo Hills I have seen the situation here going from bad to worse. Surprisingly the State Government is dilly-dallying in accepting that Garo hills is a disturbed area but anyone who has spent his time in the field here knows that it is indeed a “Disturbed Area?” What more proof do we need? Are the rampant killings of innocents by the militants, the regular kidnappings of traders, teachers and officials by the militants and other sundry criminals, the rampant extortion of money from traders and government officials, the targeting of officials, even a Deputy Commissioner, by militants, the concomitant milieu of fear forcing the bazaars of not only remote areas but of Tura as well to shut down by 7 pm, not proof enough of a “Disturbed area?” Or are we waiting for the proverbial “rivers of blood” to flow in Garo hills to accept the disturbance prevalent in the region?
What is most disturbing is the exponential increase in frequency of incidences wherein the innocents and government officials are targeted by militants. The fact that even small time businessmen, such as rice and fish vendors, are not safe from the wrath of kidnappers and militants is a commentary on the level of insecurity prevalent in the region. The militants are becoming so daring and desperate that they think they can shoot at anyone at will (as seen in case of an auto rickshaw driver in Ampati), that they have the right to punish who they think are guilty (as seen innumerable cases of so called ‘police informers’ like the recent killing of Josbina Sangma of Chokpot and brother of a policeman in Tura). The people are not safe even inside their homes as the militants can come and abduct anyone at will. Even the high and mighty, such as the brother of Baghmara MLA is not immune from this threat.
A more worrying and disturbing issue is the attitude of the police and state machinery towards this lawlessness. The officials in Garo hills are expected to fend for themselves in view of the “demand notes”, threats and a constant fear of being surrounded by the over ground workers of militant groups. How is anyone to feel safe and carry out his duties without fear and favour, when you are at the bullets’ end if you don’t budge to the demands of the militants or harm their interests? The fact that the militants are daring enough to even attack a Deputy Commissioner twice (DC Baghmara) completely shatters any sense of safety of Government officials and their family. What is disgusting are the skin-saving responses from the law enforcement agencies after these attacks and the fault-finding frenzy from both the sides. The government machinery completely ignored the fact that the militants are present on the National Highway as early as 7 pm ! Does it mean that the Government is not responsible for anything that happens in Garo hills and it’s a free for all for militants and criminals after sunset?
The Government of Meghalaya seems interested in projecting the so called peaceful image of the State and refuses to admit that there is utter lawlessness in the Garo Hills. It has in fact become the “Wild Wild West” of Meghalaya. It is time that the Government opens its eyes to reality and deals with the situation with conviction, even if it means using brute force and an iron hand. Hollow promises are no protection against the bullets fired at us.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request