Editor,
Apropos the recent violence in Shillong, if one looks at it with a neutral eye, there are three things which are very evident, but everybody – including the government and the police, seems to have overlooked. Firstly, the woman who was instrumental in instigating her fellow community members is missing in the entire episode. Why has she not been questioned and arrested?
Secondly, the conductor of the bus who was not behind the wheels. Why has he not been arrested along with for allowing an under-aged person, who does not have a driving licence, to drive a heavy vehicle? This is the genesis of the brawl.
Thirdly, and most importantly, why have all these STPS bus drivers / conductors / helpers who instigated the entire episode gone scot free? How have they used government property i.e. the buses and the maxi-cabs, to further their own parochial interests? How can they, being government servants, go without being answerable for the flare-up? All of them should be questioned, and the culprits should be taken to task as per law and should be removed from their jobs, for they will be wont to carry out this same type of activity in the future too, if it is not nipped in the bud.
Nobody, but nobody, is above law and the law makers / police should not succumb to pressure from interested NGOs, but take appropriate action against all the people involved.
Yours etc.,
Lambok Dkhar,
Via email
Shillongites sans Internet Services
Editor,
The SMS and the mobile internet services were restricted and banned from early morning of June 1, 2018 to quell rumours after clashes broke out in the capital city of Shillong on Thursday, May 31, afternoon. Although the SMS was restored on June 7, the restrictions on the Mobile Internet services continued until the afternoon of June 13 after which it was lifted. Sudden suspension and disconnection of Mobile Internet connectivity for about a fortnight now is a display of poor management skills because it disrupts the country’s foremost programme, “Digital India” .
Suspension of Internet services has hit the admission process of students, who want to pursue their studies in colleges and universities outside Meghalaya since all transactions are now done online and this includes filling up application forms and payment of fees. Students who are doing internship in the city, are facing several problems in carrying out the task assigned to them by the university where they study for lack of communication as most of the assignments are shared through e-mails.Internet shutdown has also affected businesses with companies outside the state. It has hit job aspirants too as certain applications are done on line. The situation has also affected the flow of tourists to the state’s capital, thereby hugely affecting the hotels as most of the bookings are being cancelled. May, June and July being peak seasons for tourists, the tourism industry of the state has been adversely affected.
Due to prolonged suspension of internet services all professionals and consultants associated with various priority industries in the state were debarred from rendering services online to their clients. The self-employed and young entrepreneurs suffered most and incurred a huge loss of business because most points of sale transactions were disrupted across communities. Arising out of professional needs/engagement/pre-occupation people who are based at Shillong from other districts and endemic parts of the State and also from other states could not carry out online banking transactions for almost a fortnight. People, from other states and serving in Meghalaya, have suffered immensely due to the delayed admission of their wards to Engineering/Medical Colleges or for an emergency operation/medical treatment of their nearest of kin in their home state or native place where their families reside as they are unable to remit money in time.
Even TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) is mooting introduction of mobile network connectivity and internet services during flights as extension of benefits of a Digital India in the coming months. Is it not a paradox that we in Shillong had to be plunged into the darkness of internet non-connectivity causing unbearable sufferings on innumerable fronts for almost a fortnight now in this tech-savvy era? What about the rumour-mongers and those spreading fake news using local BSNL broadband connections or operating from beyond the state boundary at Khanapara to add fuel to mob-fury? How do we plug these larger holes in the bucket of the state administration? Was the recent situation much worse and scarier than that prevailing in Kashmir? Certainly not!
Yours etc.,
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Advocate, Kolkata High Court,
Via email
Hima Mylliem up for sale?
Editor,
After much consternation and mumblings about the genesis of the recent riots and violence between the local community and the Harijans relating to land dispute in the heart of the city, what actually transpires is that the said land was systematically sold at a price by the previous Syiem (Chieftain) of Hima Mylliem. Since the matter went to Court and was ultimately stayed by the High Court it shows that the Syiem of Hima Mylliem and the KHADC should ultimately be held accountable as per records available. The absence of clarity has only blowing the matter out of proportions. This tells us that our so-called ” Defenders” of the ‘ Jaidbynriew ‘ have failed to uphold the aspirations and social values of their people and above all have gradually put the community up on sale to the highest bidder which is shameful and unexpected. From forests to land to rivers everything is being eroded away in the name of the Hima and greed. Just how far we allow such things to continue should become the subject of debate in society.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar,
Via email