Demands probe into education scam
SHILLONG: The CSWO took up the education scam with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.
In a memorandum submitted to the visiting Union Minister of State on Friday, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing stated, “There are strong cases involving scams by those in government but are being ignored and intentionally delayed, like the education scam where score sheets were tampered with and genuine candidates (were) deprived of their right to job and equality by those in power.”
She also informed that an FIR was filed time and again from 2010, yet no action is being taken since ministers are involved in the scam.
“The CBI had made an initial inquiry on orders of the High Court but no further investigation was entrusted to them. This is all a part of the failed system that is manipulative to benefit a few while many suffer injustice due to failed governance,” Kharshiing said.
The CSWO president, in the memorandum, also raised the issue of the rise of crime against women and children.
“With immense pride, we would like to mention that ours is a matrilineal Society. But with deep regret, we have to state that our women and children face tremendous violence perpetrated against them,” the CSWO president said.
The issue of the alleged delay in investigating scams against politicians and influential officers, fake encounters and abuse of power by men in uniform, false FIR’s and damage suits filed to suppress the voices of the people and illegal tapping of calls by police and BSNL was also raised in the memorandum.
Kharshiing also alleged that the cases of human trafficking, rape of women, abuse of children takes a back seat, with police choosing which case to take up first.
She accused the police of prioritizing cases against those who raise their voice against injustice, corruption, fake encounters, illegal eviction and human right violations. )“Many families of victims lose hope in filing cases, which leads to many unreported cases. It is also deterrent for people who come to NGO’s for assistance,” the CSWO president stated in the memorandum.
She also referred to the ICDS scam where adulterated milk was procured and fed to children and an FIR was filed but the CID felt it better to seek advice of the law department and the case is still pending since influential bureaucrats and officers are involved.
The CSWO president also raised custodial death issues where youth were allegedly killed by the police in West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills in May 2014 and justice seems to be a far cry, adding that the involved police were not booked and the SP and the ASP West Garo Hills still manage to use their power to intimidate people to stop them from raising their voices.
Kharshiing also mentioned that the NGOs who raised their voice in protest are illegally booked under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous Districts) Amendment Act 2010, (MMPO Act), or the Meghalaya Public Detention (MPDA).
She finally alleged that former DGP Prem Singh and IGP GHP Raju had issused an order to tap her phone number (9436118164) last year. “This is highly illegal and they have invaded my privacy. If they can do this to me, imagine what they are doing to the voiceless,” she said.