Editor,
The recent action of the East Garo Hills District Police to probe the alleged nexus between a women minister of the Government of Meghalaya and “militants” (read murderers, extortionists) is a step in the right direction. Many have opined either directly or indirectly that the Chief Minister has pressurized the police force to take action against his detractors and to quell dissidence. This is a moot point. The real issue here is that GNLA militants are alleged to have been used by Mrs. D. Marak to intimidate members of the electorate and win elections. Surely this serious charge needs to be probed and a logical conclusion should be reached based on evidence and law. The larger question is how the present Government of Mr. Mukul Sangma deals with violence and bloodshed in the Garo Hills in the coming days. This will define how the public will judge him and his government.
Further, there has been opinion stating that the original FIR in the said case did not mention names and that somehow the names have been concocted later on at the behest of the powers that be. Everyone with a basic knowledge of the law will know that FIRs are subject to investigation and names can be added / removed at any point of time. Imputing political reasons to deflect from criminal wrongdoing seems to be the reflex reaction of our politicians!
Mr. S C Marak, through your paper, has urged that all MLAs need to be probed for links with militants. Surely this is another red herring. Sweeping comments of this kind at this point of time are of no consequence. Surely there cannot be safety in numbers! This is meant only for muddying the waters.
I believe that the recent action of the police of East Garo Hills should be expanded further to include links between “militants” and business persons / politicians. In a world where politics has become a business and becoming a “militant” is a career move, every action to nip this Frankenstein Monster in the bud should not be met with cynicism. Garo Hills is already red with the blood of innocents. How many deaths will it take before we know that too many people have died!
Yours etc.,
Alan Lyngdoh
Shillong -1
150th anniversary of Shillong
Editor
Mr. Torist Mark in his letter to the editor ( ST November 7, 2014 ) rightly mentioned that Shillong became the capital of Assam in 1874 . The Imperial Gazeteer Of India , Eastern Bengal And Assam , 1909 , page 499, states that Shillong ” first became the civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 , in place of Cherrapunji . In 1874 , on the formation of Assam into a separate province , it was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration…..”.
The Gazeteer also mentions that ” until 1874 , Assam was administered as part of Bengal , but in that year it was formed into a separate Province under a Chief Commissioner.
It is noteworthy to mention that the first census was conducted in 1881 . According to this census , the population of Shillong was 3737 , most of which was concentrated in and around Laban . The celebration of the 150th year of Shillong in 2014 is , therefore , a celebration of its formation as the administrative headquarters of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1864 , which may be regarded as the year of birth of the city .
Yours etc.,
A . Lyngdoh
Umiam, Ribhoi
Extortion by Meghalaya Police
Editor,
Meghalaya Police is extorting money ranging from Rs 100- 2000 from trucks that pass by the twin districts of Jaintia Hills. Is this collection authorized by the Govt or any other authority empowered to do so? From the manner in which the collection is made clearly shows that it is illegal because the police officer concerned does not check any documents from the truck drivers. Every truck that passes through the highway has to pay a certain amount of money else the police will harass the driver. Helpless drivers especially those who are not from Meghalaya have no option but to pay the ransom. Through this collection the police earn huge sums of money daily but the money does not reach the state exchequer.
Such collection is made at different police stations and police outposts in the district of East Jaintia Hills. I can say nearly all police outposts in East Jaintia hills are resorting to such practice. While extorting money the police neither verify the vehicle documents nor the products being carried by the truck and they never give receipts for such collection. What does this mean but plain and simple CORRUPTION! Even if someone carries weapons in the truck, the police will never know because they do not bother to check the vehicle. All they are concerned about is money. Such illegal collection increases the prices of essentials commodities and affects the common people. Often traffic jams are caused by this obscene activity. There is illegal collection also in the Infiltration check gate in East Jaintia Hills district for both outgoing and incoming vehicles to and from Meghalaya.
If this is illegal then does the district authority know about it? What about the local MLA, the Home Minister, the SP, the DGP and the Chief Minister? Are they all in the dark? If such collection is illegal, why can’t they stop the practice? Or is anyone of the above-named getting a share of the collection? But if the collection is legal then, where is the money?
The media has reported such cases very often. I was told by a truck driver that a single truck has to pay at least Rs. 4000-6000 from Byrnihat to Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills to these illegal toll gates. This practice by some police officials has tarnished the name of the entire Meghalaya Police contingent. This illegal collection must be stopped forthwith. I call upon the State Govt. to look into this matter.
Yours etc.,
K. Amse
NEHU, Shillong-22