Editor,
I am shocked and dismayed at the news “Police pick up 46 students in city” which appeared in your esteemed daily. I am, however, more shocked at the response that the news garnered among the readers. To claim this act of the police department as moral policing is tantamount to covering up for the grievous crimes that may have been committed with this episode.
Firstly, to address the points raised by Benjamin Lyngdoh (Nov 21, 2014), I find it strange as to why the author feels the perpetrators of the act are not to be held responsible. To be sure, the management and staff of Ward’s Lake would be considered as accessories to this crime. But how is it that this fact clears the students of their responsibility? Does the fact that the legal drinking age is 25 in Meghalaya escape the arm of the law as well? I am a huge proponent of positive reinforcement and constructive punishments but there is a time for the use of sterner methods. This is one of those times. Letting these students off with a “strong strict warning” would not guarantee that they will not get behind the wheel of a car and drive recklessly towards their own deaths and most probably that of several others. It was admirable of the police to take care that they were sober enough to be allowed back on the streets.
As for taking the students to the hospital, I am not surprised in the least. It is the responsibility of the police to investigate a crime to the fullest extent of its perpetration. I would expect the police to examine how much alcohol was consumed to rule out alcohol poisoning. The police should also have checked if any were given alcohol without their consent. The more important thing to remember is that there is a mystery about the source of the alcohol. Not only is this a crime for the students because of the underage drinking, but it is also a crime to supply alcohol to persons below the legal drinking age.
I do agree that people should be more responsible in their use of social media, but you cannot expect discretion from others when these students are so ready to humiliate themselves in public. And how can we root out such an evil from the society when Mr. Lyngdoh does not want to hold the perpetrators up for accountability? Another important point of concern was raised by Caroline Lyngdoh (Nov 22, 2014). I absolutely agree that moral policing would not correct this type of behavior. But neither would talk of moral education. Alcohol and drugs are not matters of the moral inclination. These are matters that fall heavily under the jurisdiction of the law.
I believe the State has to take stringent measures to ensure that proper sale of alcoholic drinks is done within the purview of the law. An inventory system can be put in place to ensure this, using the ample resources available to the State in the form of its computer engineering graduates. This will also ensure that no illegal sale of alcohol is going on, as well as containing the growth of alcohol drinking in the State.
Lastly, let me address the letter by Cassandra Syiemlieh (Nov 26, 2014). It is absolutely correct to place this delinquent behavior at the footsteps of errant parents and teachers. It is not fair to blame the new generation for the failures of society when the older generations have stumbled through mistake after mistake without taking responsibility for being wrong. This is the biggest concern as of right now. There are kids in the State and all over the world who are placed in dangerous and unhealthy situations because of their caregivers. This is why it is imperative that child rights must be implemented with full vigor in the State. Parents and caregivers must be held responsible for putting their children through any abuse (mental, physical or emotional) and for endangering the lives of their children in any way. I am waiting with bated breath to see how the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights reacts to this news. It may not be within the jurisdiction of the Commission but I do think there is a connection to its work. The Commission cannot take to slumbering so quickly after its inception.
Yours etc.,
Gabriel Broadwin Nongsiej,
M.Tech, Dept of Computer Science & Engineering,
IIT Kharagpur