SHILLONG: On the last day of the Budget session, Dadenggre MLA James Sangma cornered Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh over the frequent transfers of police personnel in the case related to alleged flesh trade at Marvelene’s Inn.
Participating in the cut motion to deliberate on the style and functioning of the Home (Police) Department, the NPP member lamented that the officer in charge of Laban police station, G.R Marak, has been transferred while the investigation is still on.
He also pointed out that woman police SI R.C Nongkynrih was also replaced by a new officer in charge of Laban police station, who was transferred from the police headquarters and is currently probing the case.
According to Sangma, such questionable steps by the Police Department raise suspicions about its commitment to solve the crime and lend credence to the allegations that the Home Minister is interfering in the Marvelene’s Inn case.
In reply, Lyngdoh said the officer in charge of Laban police station was transferred at his own request, adding that the department had no role in the transfer of officers up to the level of sub-inspector.
Lyngdoh clarified that transfers and postings of officers up to the inspector level are the remit of the respective superintendents of police.
Case of Tapan Ghosh
The MLA also slammed the State government over its inability to make any arrests in a recent case where a group of miscreants attacked a family in Garobadha that resulted in the death of one Tapan Ghosh, who was the bread earner of the family.
Sangma pointed out that treatment of Tapan Ghosh has cost the family over Rs 17 lakh. He demanded that the Government pay compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family.
To this, the Home Minister said the department will examine the demand for compensation to the family of Ghosh.
The MLA also demanded action against a cop who extorted money from a woman, besides firing in the air in a public place at Chokpot.
Cop arrested
Lyngdoh informed that the accused cop has been arrested and departmental action would follow.
Earlier, he said the number of crimes reported in the State in 2015 was 4,406 and in 2016 it was 3,564, a decline of 19.11 per cent. He added that the government had passed directions that cases of crime against women and children must be transferred to fast track courts.
Disposal of cases
Lyngdoh also asserted that police have made a steady improvement in disposal of cases in the last three years. Altogether 3,706 cases (both at the charge sheet stage and final report) were disposed of in 2014 and 3,515 in 2015, including those pending from the previous years.
Giving out statistics about counter insurgency operations, Lyngdoh added that from 2010 to March 1, 2017, police have neutralised 179 militants of various groups and arrested 1,123 others while 428 militants have surrendered.
‘No-entry’ boards
Earlier, while participating in the discussion, South Tura MLA John Leslee Sangma rued that the police have turned many areas in Tura town into no-parking zones and that the ‘no-entry’ boards have the advertisements of Star Cement. He alleged these instances indicate that police are being used by private companies.
Meanwhile, Rambrai MLA K.P Pangniang demanded that all border outposts be strengthened and regularised. He also expressed dismay over the “measly payment” of Rs 2,500 as holiday remuneration to police personnel.
