SHILLONG: The probe into the alleged harassment of an orderly peon by the Director of Soil and Water Conservation, D. Langstieh, is progressing slowly and the first hearing in the case was held on Friday, three weeks after the government set up a women’s panel.
The peon in her complaint to the authorities had alleged that Langstieh tasked her with non-official work and insisted that she stayed at his residence at night. When she refused, he withheld her salary and later transferred her to Byrnihat.
The government, under pressure, set up the panel – comprising A.D Blah from the Water Resources Department as the chairperson and V. Papang and S Kharpuli from the Soil and Water Conservation Department as members – on February 3.
However, it took three weeks for the panel to start the probe into the matter.
The girl appeared before the committee on Friday only to reply to the written queries of the panel.
According to the girl, she was asked to reply to as many as 18 questions in writing.
One of the questions was whether the official under whom she was working had forced her to stay at night at his residence, and the reply was in the affirmative.
The panel members said the statement of Langstieh will also be taken soon. However, no time frame has been given to complete the probe.
The panel also denied coming under any pressure while probing the matter by stating that it is an independent committee.
