School bags, hand bags, umbrellas go missing from venue
SHILLONG: Public anger is brewing against the Special Protection Group (SPG), State and central security personnel, who according to the people turned ‘villains’ during the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Polo Grounds on Friday.
The most affected were the students and women as the security personnel failed to protect bags and umbrellas deposited by them.
Earlier, the SPG personnel created confusion for the media persons at the State Convention Centre as the latter were allowed only to cover the address of the Prime Minister at the last minute.
The media persons were not allowed to cover the addresses of governors and chief ministers of the Northeastern states and other dignitaries due to the interference of SPG.
At Polo Grounds, angry students and women, among others, said they deposited bags of text and note books, ladies bags containing money and umbrellas before entering the stadium as per the order of the security personnel, but could not find them after the programme.
The students and the women were asked by security personnel posted in the spot to deposit their umbrellas and school bags in the entrance and were assured they would get them back. Later, after the public gathering, the women and children left the hall and went to collect their belongings only to realize to their utter shock that their belongings were missing.
Some umbrellas were found strewn near the gate where some security personnel of the State were posted. Instead of helping them, the security personnel laughed it off when some women approached them.
A woman constable even questioned citizen journalists who were taking photos of a few umbrellas which were strewn on the ground.
According to the State police, they had received instructions from SPG personnel to take away umbrellas and school bags and not to allow them inside.
Earlier, chaotic scenes were witnessed due to mishandling of the crowd who wanted to enter the 5th Ground. The gate was only partially opened resulting in people squeezing in. As the ground had limited capacity, people who did not get a place to sit were seen braving the rain to hear the Prime Minister.
At times, the people who were standing in the last row were seen restless following the torrential rain.
Meanwhile, the CSWO also alleged that school bags of children and umbrellas of people had gone missing from the venue.
The CSWO condemned the arrangements in Polo Grounds terming it as horrid alleging the insensitive attitude of the State Police who guided the public.
“The least they could have told the public was that there was no road and not allow such a farce which portrays such government servants as politically linked and not serving in public interest,” they said, alleging that people who came in through the parking lot to the venue at Polo were made to walk through a patch which led to some cowsheds.
“Further on entering the well guarded area prepared for the presence of the Prime Minister and after bags were screened along with the contents, the security both from IB and the State SB asked the public to put their school bags, hand bags outside and also their umbrella was not allowed to be taken in,” they stated.
CSWO alleged that the security even assured that the items would be safe and the people trusted the government servants and deposited their items in the covered floor near the entrance.
“When the meeting was over, children and others came out to collect their things but were in for a rude shock to find their belongings,” CSWO said.
The CSWO has demanded an inquiry in the matter.