Editor,
Kudos to all those who worked towards the arrest of the predator Julius Dorphang that includes the NGOs , Police and the media particularly the Shillong Times for exposing all those involved in the heinous crime . But that is not enough. I would appreciate investigative journalism that goes to the root causes and factors that led to the growth and influence of Dorphang. From a self styled militant leader to a legislator or law maker turned ring leader of the Surrendered HN Looters Council that gave Dorphang the mafioso muscle power to win contracts in NEHU etc,. which emboldened him further to turn predator . Who are his patrons? Politicians , bureaucrats , business tycoons , local leaders , church leaders etc . How was the Dorphang gang used during elections by politicians of all hues ? Dorphang is only a symptom of a much deeper malaise and nexus.
Yours etc.,
Rudi Warjri,
Via email
Army jawans drop bombshells!
Editor,
‘We are sleeping because our army Jawans are not sleeping along the Pak-Indo border’ – is a clichéd sentence circulating on social media. Even PM Modi has confidently uttered the same words in his speeches at several occasions. But this time this “pride” has received a rude jolt. A lance Naik Yagya Pratap dropped a bombshell that has literally disturbed the sleep of a countless senior army officers. Perhaps the harassment and tortures experienced by Pratap were so horrific that he had to express his pent-up anger and frustration. In utter desperation, he shared the YouTube video pouring out all his angst. He pointedly blamed the seniors for making their subordinates do their menial work; sometimes hurting their self-esteem.
No responsible citizen can undermine the hardship experienced by our Jawans. They are on their toes in the most frozen and hostile terrains of the Indo-Pak border. Any moment bullet shots might pierce their hearts and kill them. This is their life. But the irony is that these security army men, an armour of the country, receive very inhuman treatment at the hands of their seniors. Of course, here we can’t ignore the sacrifice and hardship undergone by police personnel who safeguard both urban and rural zones round-the-clock against any harm and danger These security forces practically have no family and personal life but are often made scapegoats for any shortcomings.
Incidentally, another BSF jawan — Tej Bahadur Yadav spilled the beans about the quality of the food served. Of course, he put himself at great risk by disclosing about the meager and poor quality food provided to the infantry. His desperation is such that he even exhorted all Indian to spread these bitter truths across the nation. These shocking revelations have shaken the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as well.
Thanks to the media and the mass support that immediately built-up, The Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had to respond. He wasted no time in putting up “suggestion-cum-grievance” boxes at every army camp and headquarter. Let’s hope that these two episodes will not only soften the hearts of the army officers towards their juniors but also help eradicate rampant corruption in the defense forces. Beware big bosses, another bombshell might be dropped by another jawan!
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali
Shillong-2