SHILLONG: A public meeting with the Police department was held in the campus of Pedaldoba PHC, Salbari village, Pedaldoba, an area plagued by militancy in West Garo Hills, on October 31.
The meeting was attended by Vivekanand Singh, SDPO, Dadenggre Sub-Division, Vidya Bhushan Upadhyay, Assistant Commandant, BSF, Phulbari, R.A. Sangma, Circle Inspector (W), Phulbari, B. Hajong, Officer in Charge, Tikrikilla PS, and other police and paramilitary personnel.
Dr. Rikrak Napak, Medical and Health Officer, Pedaldoba PHC, and other medical staff were present. Laskar, Nokma and Sordar of various villages, teachers, Mahila Samiti members, GSU members, other leaders and civilians also attended the meeting.
Salbari and its adjoining areas is a remote part of the State with no mobile connectivity. Only one bus is operational to and from other areas on a given day and there is no proper road connectivity to the area.
There is only one Government department (Primary Health Centre) in the area which is working relentlessly in such a remote and hostile area.
Earlier, an Anti-Dacoity Camp had been set up at Pedaldoba but owing to lack of mobile network, police personnel are unable to cover the area and moreover they are not provided with any vehicle.
Moreover, police personnel are sometimes withdrawn from the area leaving the people without any security cover.
Taking advantage of the thin police presence, miscreants have been resorting to extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activities, most of which go unreported.
Seeking to provide the people with a peaceful means of existence, the meeting prepared and submitted a list of demands to the police officers, one of which was establishment of a police station at Salbari village.
Reacting to the demands of the villagers, Vivekanand Singh expressed concern over the insurgency problems and promised to deliver the people from the terror of insurgents. He also sought the cooperation of the public in order to check militancy.
The official also assured that he would take steps to set up a Police Outpost at Salbari village near the primary health centre.
The SDPO also surveyed the area to search for a suitable location for establishment of a temporary Police Outpost and subsequently a permanent police station.