Patricia Mukhim
In the frenetic pace at which things are moving in this poll-bound state it is possible that Jonathone Sangma’s death and the reasons leading to it will soon cease to become news. After all, this is the normal course of things in Meghalaya. The state’s conviction rate on crimes is so abysmally low that it’s a blur on the image of the State Police. Politically sensitive case right from 1979 onward have been buried in case files that are now eaten with white ants. In 2014 alone, 3679 cases of crimes were registered under the IPC of which 1944 were charge-sheeted. Only in 197 cases were the accused convicted. This brings the conviction rate to just 5 % a little better than Manipur where the conviction rate has always hovered at 4%. the At that time IGP Law and Order GHP Raju had said that once the case is charge-sheeted it is beyond the purview of the police and is decided by the trial court. The moot point is how rock solid and fool-proof are those charge sheets which are based on police investigations! And I daresay shoddy investigation will not stand scrutiny in a court of law. The general excuse for shoddy investigation is that Police does not as yet have a separate investigation wing.
I don’t want to pick bones with those who believe that death is destined. Personally, I believe Jonathone Sangma’s death was preventable if the police had established area domination over pockets of East Garo Hills which are known hubs of the GNLA. But they failed to do so. In fact after GHP Raju and Rajiv Mehta, I wonder which other officers really have a grip on the GNLA’s modus operandi. And I am not undermining the work put in by other officers posted to East Garo Hills. I am also conscious of the fact that many foot soldiers have lost their lives at the hands of these unscrupulous mercenaries – which is what the GNLA and its ilk are today. What surprised me was the time it took for the police force to reach the scene of the blast at Sawilgre under Samanda Block. Now the Deputy Commissioner, East Garo Hills says that Jonathone was warned not to travel to Sawilgre and to restrict his election meetings only to Denamgre. Now which candidate will not want to reach out to the last voter if he/she wants to win the election? Besides, the villagers of Sawilgre had allegedly invited Jonathone there. But whether they were asked to do so under intimidation from the GNLA to lure the NCP candidate so that he becomes easy prey is what needs to be established because not one of them appeared at the meeting place. And planting IEDs is a meticulously planned ambush.
It is the brief of the state administration to ensure safety to every candidate so they can visit whatever part of the constituency they need to. If State Police cannot ensure area domination because of the lack of adequate security personnel and other wherewithal, they should have informed the Chief Electoral Officer who should in turn write to the Union Home Ministry explaining the situation as it is. What has happened in this case is a reluctance to share intelligence with the Union Home Ministry about the ground situation in Garo Hills because that would undo the repeated claims made by Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma that Meghalaya is safe and secure and his Government had ushered in this climate of security. Well, East and South Garo Hills are not as secure as Dr Sangma would have us believe. If there were security concerns, which evidently there were, since the DC East Garo Hills cautioned Jonathone not to visit certain areas of his constituency then why were these not brought to the fore? Who should be blamed for the death of Jonathone N Sangma? Or will his death be another closed case in the police files?
In the 2013 general elections, Jonathone Sangma was threatened by the GNLA. They put up the same kind of posters that warned people who voted for him with fatal consequences. Jonathone filed an FIR with the Williamnagar Police. The Police apparently investigated the matter and the case is now in the lower court. For a while this case was used as a political tool by certain politicians against their rivals who threatened the stability of the government. When it was necessary to get compliance from the person the case would resurface and make news and then it would recede from public memory. You begin to wonder why the prosecution in this case is so weak why should the case drag on? Jonathone himself expressed concern that this case might not reach anywhere because it was politically sensitive. Perhaps the case would have taken a different turn if it reached the High Court. We would have known by now why the GNLA threatened people not to vote for Jonathone. If so, which candidate did they want to prop up from Williamnagar and why? Did the GNLA ask Jonathone to lay off and allow them a free rein if he is elected? Did Jonathone refuse to tow the line since 2013, hence the intimidation?
Several questions remain unanswered and the DGP has expressed his concern at the fact that two surrendered GNLA cadres who once held high profile posts in the organisation were with Jonathone Sangma. This actually made him more vulnerable. Did he think they would provide him fire power? Did he want to be one up on the GNLA since he would find out their modus operandi from the surrendered militants? Above all, whose purpose would the death of Jonathone Sangma serve? The GNLA? Or the rival candidates? All these doubts need to be cleared hence no less than the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has specialised competence in dealing with crimes of terror should be brought in and allowed to do their job within a specified time line. The people of Meghalaya should stand united now and say “No to Terror.” We did not elect representatives to play footsie with terrorists and mercenaries and to use them during election time.
The people of Garo Hills have lost many young souls to terrorist bullets. How can we forget the brutal killing of Josbina Sangma right in front of her husband and children in June 2014? She was shot on the head at point blank range. But we seem to have forgotten this crime and others like it and slipped into our comfort zones. The tendency is to shut our eyes to the terror instead of confronting it. And many would also shut out their consciences by saying, “Let us pray for peace.” I wish to remind good “Christians” that God helps those who help themselves and we cannot collude with evil and expect God to solve the earthly mess we create. And remaining silent in the face of terror is equivalent to collusion with the terrorists!
In 2000-2002 when RG Lyngdoh as Home Minister decided to take on the militants with full force he was literally told not to venture into Garo Hills by a senior politician. Hence while the HNLC was brought down in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, militancy in Garo Hills was allowed to thrive. Perhaps it was a case of political competition. And look where it has landed the state today.
One thing is very clear about militancy/insurgency. It cannot survive without political patronage. So who is providing the GNLA that patronage today? We cannot blame the villagers who are forced to allow militants to stay in their homes and to provide food for them. They are virtually held hostage. We should call the bluff and point our fingers where they should be pointed. Enough of mercenaries running our lives!