Editor,
The petrol bomb attack at the home of the Editor of the Shillong Times , Kong Patricia Mukhim could be a cowardly act of either some misfits in the society or perhaps an act of members of any organization who felt the pinch of the hard truth the Editor often bravely exposed through her writings and other expressions in her crusade for the benefits of the society at large. If through such intimidations the perpetrator of the crime think that they can create fear in the mind of the Editor and discourage her from taking her mission forward then they could be terribly wrong. Being public spirited as she is and a conscience keeper of the society I am sure that this will instead further embolden her and she will definitely get more and more support from the sane members of the society . The petrol bomb attack is a spineless act and is highly condemnable. It is hoped that the authorities concerned will nab the culprits quickly and follow it up with stern punishment.
Yours etc.,
K.L. Tariang,
Via email
Freedom of the Press endangered
Editor,
I am still in a state of shock after reading the news about the petrol bomb attack at the residence of the Editor of the Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim (“Petrol bomb attackers target ST Editor’s house”, ST, page – 1, April 18, 2018). Freedom of the Press is now in great danger. Journalists like Gouri Lankesh, Shantanu Bhowmik and K.J. Singh have been murdered in different parts of our country a few months ago. It tells a very sad tale of the present status of press freedom. Already, India has slipped three places in just one year from 133rd in 2016 to 136th in 2017 as per the World Press Freedom Ranking Index. It will be a bad day for democracy if the Press has to work in a reign of terror.
It is also a shame that we could not save rationalists like Narendra Davolkar, Govind Pansare, Malleshappa Kalburgi, Gouri Lankesh and others. This underscores the need for speedy criminal justice delivery system for the survival of our democracy. We must remember that democracy cannot survive without free press.
All of us must condemn dastardly petrol bomb attack on one of the leading voices of our country and demand immediate arrest of the culprits. Also, it is necessary to find out the force behind this cowardly act and to bring them to justice without delay.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
No respite for pedestrians
Editor,
Every year, come rainy seasons the roads in different areas of Shillong become waterlogged. The reason, of course, as everyone is aware is clogged drains or no drains at all. One such road which I travel on everyday is the road from Lawmali Junction to Jaiaw Jingthang Briew. As mentioned earlier, the areas just after crossing Lawmali Junction and the area just before reaching Jaiaw Jingthang Briew junction accumulates water even in the slightest shower. This of course is a problem since time immemorial which successive Governments and local MLAs and MDCs who claim to represent the people have done nothing to improve, whatever it is that is needed to improve. Perhaps they represent only the people who own private vehicles.
On the right side of the road just after crossing Lawmali junction there is residue/mud/sand cleared from the drains just before the rainy seasons of 2017. Surprisingly the same has not been collected till date. Since there are no footpaths on either side of the road pedestrians are the ones mostly facing the problem. I feel sorry especially for school children who walk to school as sometimes there are motorists with an idiotic mindset who love to purposely drive fast in the waterlogged areas thereby splashing muddy water on the students. I had sometimes come across such kids having to return home without making it to school as they are soaking wet with the filthy water. So whenever they use this stretch of road the pedestrians have to pray to God that the motorists use basic common sense or bear the brunt of getting splashed with filthy, muddy waters.
On the side of Wahumkhrah, along the entire stretch of the road, there are Guard Walls with a gap of 1(one) feet (approx) between them. So when the water gets too full on the road it can overflow into the river. Even then the water logging problem is intense when the rains are heavy. Recently, the State Government (as read vide report which appears in ST Dated 17-04-2018) had adopted various measures to save Wahumkhrah from mankind (who are not so kind) by erecting fences all along the river banks. It is observed, that to erect the fences they had to strengthen the Guard Wall by filling the 1(one) feet gap. In place of the wide gaps, 4 inch pipes were placed at strategic points all along the stretch of the road, perhaps to provide space for “free flow” of water from the road to Wahumkhrah.
Now, common sense dictates that even with the big gap available earlier, water was not able to flow properly, thereby causing the road to be waterlogged, then it will not flow at all when the gaps are covered and replaced by these small 4 inch holes. I do not doubt the experts concerned and their expertise, but sometimes we simply just need to use common sense.
Therefore, I would request the Minister in-charge Urban Affairs and Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) to kindly take immediate necessary steps for –
(i) Easing the plight of pedestrians passing through this stretch of road – rain or no rain.
(ii) Proper mechanism for smooth/free flow of water in the said area during rainy seasons
(iii) Immediate clearance of the debris accumulated at the road side since 2017.
And I do hope that the “winds of change” come early for this purpose.
Yours Etc..,
Pyntngen Nongpluh,
Shillong -8