Editor,
Apropos the news report, “Mother hands over accused son to police” (ST March 20, 2016), while commending the noble act of the mother in handing over her accused son to the police after he confessed to committing a heinous crime against a 19 year old girl who has just completed her High School Leaving Certificate Examination, I sincerely hope that the police, whose lapses in such probes are now part of folklore, get their act together and ensure that the victim gets speedy justice. If the police could show their competence when the Chief Minister’s car scraped a taxi from behind nearby the crime scene, there is no reason why they cannot punish the guilty after building up an air tight case.
We all want justice for the victim of brutal rape and murder. Procedural lapses should not be reason for denial and/or delaying justice. This incident is a dark spot in the culture of Shillong, and also on the Khasi society at large. While the mother of the accused has acted in good conscience by bringing her son, the accused to the law enforcement agencies, she also quoted her son as saying that there were three others wearing masks at the jungle close to the house of the victim and they had asked the accused to strangulate her. This reminds us of the Delhi Nirbhaya case over which the whole nation erupted in anger. This Shillong brave-heart was also raped and murdered. Will this city be outraged? Many political parties and civil society groups have condemned the gruesome crime and are asking for compensation to the victim’s family along with additional expenses for the funeral conducted for her as per the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme, 2014. But the larger question of justice is critical here. Just a few days ago we observed the International Women’s Day and expressed solidarity with the cause of women. Prime Minister, Modi has been constantly speaking on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. Women, in Meghalaya are often the sole bread winners in their homes. Such criminal acts must therefore receive speedy justice. The law enforcement agencies should conduct their investigation with complete professionalism and present their charge sheet at the earliest. It is unfortunate that in Meghalaya many cases of crimes against women and children are pending in the courts of law or the District Council Courts.
Yours etc.,
Ivy Warjri
Shillong 14
Uncouth policewoman
Editor,
On March 14 last at around 2 pm after picking up my grandson from St. Edmund’s School, I went to hand over my daughter’s mobile phone at her office in Laitumkhrah as she had left it at home. No sooner had I handed over the phone to her when she received a call. The caller was a woman with a stern and authoritarian voice. She woman asked my daughter if her name was so and so and if she had a car with a particular number plate. My daughter answered in the affirmative.
Then in an intimidating and threatening voice, the person at the other end of the line, without identifying herself of the purpose of the phone call simply said, `Come and bring your car immediately.’ She did not say where and for what reason. My daughter and I were in a fix but she told the caller that she was in the office and that she had not brought the car with her on that particular day. A few minutes later another call came from the same person telling my daughter to hurriedly come and bring the car documents with her. The caller had still not identified herself and we had no idea where we were being summoned.
At this point I thought of reporting the matter to the Sadar Police Station but within a span of 5 minutes or so the third call came asking my daughter to come in the evening along with the car related papers. On asking where we were to come, she said, “To the Police Station.” On further asking which police station, the reply came “Rynjah P.S.” This is not just a harassment of the general public but totally unprofessional handling of the situation. Is this the kind of training that policemen/women are given on how to engage with the public?
This policewoman caused panic and nervousness and for no good reason. Its almost like treating people like criminals before even ascertaining if they had committed a crime. Such police personnel are a shame to the police force. As it turned out, we later learnt that somebody has set fire to a motor cycle in Rynjah and someone reported to the police that my daughter’s vehicle was in the vicinity. By the way we stay in Upper Shillong and my daughter was nowhere near that place where the fire incident happened. And when we appeared at the Rynjah Police Station out of courtesy the lady police personnel was not even present. All policemen/women are expected to be humane, sensitive, responsive and courteous, not brusque and overbearing. More so a woman police dealing with another woman. My daughter’s car is a self driven car and till date there is no adverse remark against her driving or her vehicle. In this incident it t was a case of mistaken identity things so even if questioning was necessary it should have been sorted out in a cordial manner. Based on the above facts, the concerned police personnel should apologise for her brusque, senseless and irresponsible act.
Yours etc.,
Kosini Hynniewta
Shillong -5
Dr S P Bhattacharyya: A tribute
Editor, Shillong has lost a renowned surgeon of yesteryears, Dr. Shiva Prasad Bhattacharyya March 15, 2016. I knew Dr. Bhattacharyya right from my student days as a close friend of his youngest brother Dr. Shankar Prasad Bhattacharyya, Ex-Principal, GC College, Silchar. Dr. Shiva Prasad Bhattacharyya passed MBBS his from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh in 1955. As a brilliant medical student, he was selected for undergoing the specialised course in surgery, FRCS in UK but he opted to take up a job because of his family responsibilities since he as the eldest son of his parents. He joined medical service under the Government of Assam as the Assistant Surgeon in Civil Hospital, Guwahati. After about a year, he was transferred to Shillong Civil Hospital. Since then, he served the people of Shillong as a renowned surgeon with utmost sincerity and devotion to the profession. During those days, people of Shillong used to get their best medical treatment from Roberts Hospital and Civil Hospital. As a young surgeon of Civil Hospital, he gradually earned great reputation not only in Shillong but also in the entire North East India because of his exceptional expertise in surgery. He occupied various responsible positions in medical departments of Assam and later Meghalaya. He retired as Director of Health Service (DHS) of the Government of Meghalaya in 1993. After his retirement, Dr Bhattacharyya started practising in his private chamber in Laban. He used to treat many poor patients free of cost and also gave free medicines to needy patients. As a soft spoken, kind hearted and efficient doctor he will always be remembered by the people of the region. He is survived by his wife Dr. Gouri Bhattacharyya, a retired college teacher; daughter, Dr Indrani Bhattacharyya of Woodland hospital, son Saibal Prasad Bhattacharyya, an engineer; brothers, sisters, daughter-in-law, grand son and a host of relatives & admirers. May God give eternal peace to the noble soul.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Sudip Dey
NEHU, Shillong – 22