Editor,
Lawlessness in Garo Hills is on rise and will keep rising because of government inaction. Security of the people of Garo Hills, especially in rural area is at stake. Any group or individual with or without a real gun can kidnap and rob anybody in the rural areas where enforcement of law is completely absent. What happened at Gokol Bazar on 3rd August, 2014 is a glaring example. Seven to nine persons armed with AK47 and small arms, coming in broad day light (around 1.10 pm) and carrying out shooting spree like the party of Gabbar Singh in Sholay speak of the gravity of the situation. Lawlessness grows because of the absence of law enforcing machinery and the breakdown of governance. Perhaps the Govt. has decided that the rural masses of Garo hills are capable of defending themselves from such criminals. It is not the first time that such incidents have taken place at the same venue. The numbers of criminal groups are increasing every day. Extortion and kidnapping for ransom has become the rule of the day. Markets have shut down; banks are closed; transportation has come to a standstill and fear psychosis among the people etc., are causing untold misery to the people. The so called public leaders have deserted their own people. They are scared to come to their own constituencies to find out how people are living as they too may be served with demand notes. Eye witnesses say that the gun-toting boys were as young as 13 to 15 years old. Few of them were just students of class VII or VIII and have now dropped out of school. It speaks volumes about the future of Garo Hills. Let the people of Garo Hills or the Govt decide the future course of action but crime and atrocities will keep on rising every hour. People have lost trust in the Govt and the law enforcing machinery of the land and the future looks dismal for us.
Yours etc.,
Netice Sangma,
Via email
Independence Day Run
Editor,
The I-Day run was both good and bad. The bad news first: There were only two categories . Below 18 and above 18 years. How could a person over 60 years run with an 18 year old? The Organisers should try and do it themselves next time. There was shortage of water. Most participants could not get a drop to drink. One could not make out the Officials from the runners since they didn’t wear any badge to identify themselves. There was no clear finishing tape or line. Mid time and late finishers were treated with total indifference as if they didn’t count. And invariably most of the older participants took time to finish . No wonder the oldest participant 67 years old who finished wearing number 348 was not even known to the Organizers. And the prize was given to a 64 year old. I would ask the Organisers to contact me next time they hire a consultant. Among other things, I have organized tournaments in the name of India abroad for foreigners. I would also like to know the budget for the event and how much was spent.
The good news: It was pouring rain yet there was enormous enthusiasm all around. The interest among the younger participants was admirable. I hope the authorities concerned take notice of the potential talent and come up with ideas to sustain their capabilities. I caught up with a 12 year old boy wearing a Ronaldo shirt. He was struggling and complaining of chest pain. I advised him to go slow but not to give up and to complete the walk. I was glad to see him reach the finishing line. It was also a pleasure to see a small young boy walking till the end with his father.
By the way, I was wearing number 327.
Yours etc.,
Rudi Warjri,
Via email
Scam of inflated electricity bills
Editor,
MeECL always finds new ways of harassing consumers. Last time it was inflated bills in the old billing system. Now its back to inflated bills in the new billing system. MeECL has power cuts galore throughout the year and never attend to complaints. But every few months, people are shocked with hugely inflated bills for which there is no explanation. People are asked to file a “complaint” whenever this happens. Since such complaints are never addressed, it is another way of MeECL telling us to go and jump in the lake! To top it all, in this day and age MeECL does not have the facility for online bill payment, forcing people to stand in queues for hours on end. This dinosaur’s shelf life came to an end long ago but our Government is happy with the way things are. Is this the “good governance” you promised us, Dr Mukul Sangma? When will you and your ministers wake up from your slumber and start addressing such problems? Who will look into these endless scams of inflated bills? Certainly not MeECL, who tears up consumer complaints and uses them for toilet paper!
Yours etc.,
Charles Lyngdoh
Laban
Shillong