Smokie to raise funds for children of slained M’laya police personnel

British pop group Smokie will perform live on December 5 to raise funds for children of Meghalaya police personnel who were killed in gunfight with outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants at Garo Hills region in the western part of the state.
The legendary band, which became famous for their celebrated numbers — Don’t Play Your Rock ‘n’ Roll To Me, Living Next Door To Alice and Oh Carol, will also generate funds for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in aid of the flood victims through the concert at the Polo ground here.
The event is being organised by Police Officers’ Wives Association for Care (POWAC) in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture of the Meghalaya government, in association with t2.
‘We have resolved to help children of police per-sonnel who have fallen victim to militants in Meghalaya through a scho-larship scheme. This will be generated through funds raised through the Smokie concert,’ POWAC President Nandita Hanaman said.
‘Depending on the funds generated, we can extend the coverage to children of those personnel who died in 2012 also. POWAC can also increase the number of beneficiaries per family depending on funds generated,’ she said.
Songs like If You Think You Know How To Love Me, Don’t Play Your Rock’n’Roll To Me, It’s Your Life and Oh Carol (all Top 10 entries) became radio staples and gave the band a ticket to becoming globetrotters.
On November 5, 2013, five police personnel were killed in an ambush staged by alleged GNLA militants at Bangjakona in South Garo Hills, while on July 25, 2014, three cops were killed in an IED explosion at Tebronggre in West Garo Hills.(UNI)