SHILLONG: The ignorance on the part of a constable from Mawsynram with regard to the odd-even scheme became a source of agony and harassment to a pregnant woman, who had to travel to Shillong for a health check-up.
A pregnant woman alleged that she was verbally abused by a police constable of Mawsynram police station on Wednesday wherein he disallowed her to make her way to the city for a routine check-up.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Nongtrai Unit, acting on the complaint of the woman, also met the officer in-charge of Mawsynram police station, P Barma, in this regard.
A statement issued by the Union said that the constable had reportedly told her, “Pregnant or not, we will not allow (Armet ne laimet ruh ngin ym pyllait)”.
It was also informed that the woman had carried an NOC from the headman.
Despite the woman adhering to the government guidelines, the Mawsynram Police personnel did not allow the vehicle (ML 05 R 7300) to travel further, arguing that the vehicle number ended with a ‘zero’, which, he said, was not allowed going by the odd-even number arrangement.
It may be mentioned that according to a recent government order, vehicles with registration number ending with either zero or even number are allowed to ply on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while vehicles with registration number ending with an odd number are allowed to ply on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The act of the police has also baffled the headman, who had issued the NOC to the woman.
The pregnant lady, after waiting for hours, was finally taken to Shillong in another vehicle.
Condemning the attitude of the police personnel, the union questioned as to how the police personnel, who enforces the law, is oblivious of the order of the state government.
Meanwhile, the KSU Nongtrai unit, general secretary, Samborlang Shabong, said that Barma has apologised on behalf of the constable.