By Toki Blah
On the morning of July 2014, the people of Meghalaya woke up to the shocking news headlines of our policemen killed by an IED blast in West Garo Hills. It’s the first time that such a powerful, unconventional and cowardly weapon of destruction had ever been used in Meghalaya. It instantly conjures up images of those conflict hell holes – Iraq and Afghanistan. It transforms Meghalaya and Garo Hills into a war zone where a no holds barred warfare is being carried out. It brings about an image of people stalking one another. It brings about an image of a population thirsting for one another’s blood. The only difference is that there are no foreign invaders in the area. No foreign troops on the land. Fact is its brother killing brother. A neighbour targeting his next door neighbour. For what reason? Apparently just for the joy of killing. It’s as simply barbaric and thoughtless as that. No other reason. It’s what we have allowed this beloved land of ours to sink to.
At this point a hard question demanding hard answers is called for. How did we ever allow things to come to such a pass? It’s clear, crystal clear that it could not have happened in a day and it could not have happened if the evil of militancy had been nipped early in the bud. Truth is the cancer of militancy in Garo Hills was deliberately and intentionally allowed to spread. Militancy in Garo Hills was hatched, reared and nurtured for the vested political interests of a few power hungry people. These are people who depend on the gun to get elected. People who depend on muscle to settle political scores. For short term electoral gains, killers were foisted upon the electorate by the very people who claim to be protectors of the people and this state. The state is slipping into anarchy. There is no sense of security for the common man. We see no tangible steps being taken to curb the menace. There are enemies of the state and apparently they are from within not from outside! Apparently they continue to roam freely.
The mayhem in Garo Hills has been prolonged and getting worse by the day. Of concern is the attitude of our elected representatives to the horror of Garo Hills. For whatever its worth, the Establishment continues to make the noise it is expected to make. No comments on that score. Within the context of this discussion however, it is the correct political vision; the right political stance; the befitting political reaction and the appropriate political determination that is of essence and it just is not there! If Meghalaya is burning today its tragedy is the political silence prevailing! We have militancy; we have violence; innocents are dying while the political leadership (from all political parties) stands mute and helpless with folded hands. We are told that declaring Garo Hills as a disturbed Area is not acceptable. Fine, but what do our politicians have to offer in its place to put an end to the suffering of the people. Mere condemnation of these barbaric acts is so hollow; so hypocritical; so little to offer to those who have lost loved ones. Reassure the people with some workable plan of action. Empty promises are no longer acceptable.
Let us as a people a state and as leaders accept reality and the reality is that the population is being terrorised. Innocent people being killed. When a woman trying to defend her honour is brutally shot; when soft targets are shot like dogs; when policemen doing their job are blasted to smithereens with an IED, does it still makes sense to lovingly call the perpetrators of such crimes as ‘our misguided brethren’ or to invite such terrorists to the negotiating table? The Centre has already shown its stand on the matter. No negotiations! What is Meghalaya’s stand? We have to accept that war has been declared on the innocents of Meghalaya. Widows and orphans needlessly made. The state has to robustly respond from a position of strength. Whimpering before criminals is so nauseating. Take off the velvet gloves it’s time to show the iron fist. Rid the state immediately of this menace. Have and demonstrate the political will to do so. Our elected leaders should show their leadership qualities. They were elected to protect the interest of the state and its people. Please don’t end up protecting terrorists!
Strong police action is called for in Garo Hills if the people of those districts are to be saved and if the disease is not to spread to other areas. The police and most of them are quite competent, should be given a free hand to deal with the situation. If there are those not capable of doing the job, weed them out. It’s so demoralising to read of abortive police raids on militant hideouts. These stories simply confirm a growing suspicion. They seem to say that the police have intelligence on militant activity but when they act their actions are betrayed from within. Militants appear to have infiltrated the police or the political setup itself. There are militant informers and sympathisers within. Like it or not that is the impression that is gaining credibility within society. It does little to boost or give assurance. Time for the establishment to gird its loins. Time to take a page out of how Israel responds to terrorist threats and terrorism itself. We should do the same. Hit out hard and hit out fast. Platitudes and diplomatic statements designed not to offend have become totally irrelevant. They no longer suffice. Terrorism in our state needs to be handled firmly; handled at its psychological roots, its financial roots and its physical roots. Root it out. Tackling it holistically and acting decisively is the only way forward.
Amongst the ordinary people there is still that lingering belief that the State can still take care of its people. It can still deliver and militancy can still be dealt with. All hope is not yet lost and honestly speaking why should it? Why should a small band of desperadoes and outlaws hold the whole state to ransom? However, there is also the general belief that top Garo politicians, in their personal rivalry are not averse to turning a blind eye to militants and their activities simply to score brownie points against one another. When elephants fight the grass gets trampled. That is the people’s belief and it seems not so far from the truth. If service to the state and its people; if the wellbeing of the electorate is the TOR for our politicians, then things must change. In the general interest of the state the time to bury the hatchet has arrived. The security of the people; the safety of the community and the wellbeing of the electorate demand that personal differences, however bitter; however vicious; however deep rooted are to be kept aside. The need of the hour is for political unity not disparity. Join hands to save Meghalaya. It is hoped that those responsible take heed of this genuine need of the state.