Rape & trafficking case
SHILLONG: The State BJP has demanded resignation of Home Minister H.D.R Lyngdoh to facilitate “free and fair investigation” and also suggested CBI inquiry into the case.
The party’s State President Shibun Lyngdoh said, “The crime has taken place in the guest house belonging to the Home Minister. The Home Minister should tender his resignation.”
Lyngdoh said the sharp rise in sexual harassment cases, and especially in the recent rape of a 14-year-old girl where a legislator has confessed to the crime, “is an indication of the failure of the State Government”.
BJP’s Mahila Morcha president Bianca Kyndiah said the party would write to the Centre about involving an independent investigating authority in the rape and trafficking case.
“We will ask the Centre to intervene into the matter and see that the case is handed to an independent authority,” she said.
When asked to specifically name an independent body to handle the case, she mentioned the CBI.
On setting up fast track courts, Lyngdoh said, “We from the party have called upon the State Government to speed up establishment of fast track courts so that pending cases can be expedited.”
Violation of NGT ban, weighbridge corruption
The violation of the NGT ban on rat-hole mining in Meghalaya and the prevailing corrupt practices at weighbridges show the State administration has collapsed, Lyngdoh pointed out.
“The State Government is fully responsible for the violation of the NGT ban and the corrupt practices at weighbridges leading to a loss to the State exchequer,” he said.
Despite stringent orders from the NGT against rat-hole mining in the State, there is rampant mining, especially in areas falling under Elaka Nongkhlieh and Elaka Sutnga, in East Jaintia Hills. State counsel Ranjan Mukherjee said the Government will conduct an inquiry into the matter if it is brought before the State Government.