By Arbin Dhar
This article is written with deep love, respect and concern for the people of Meghalaya, its traditional institutions and in the general interest of ‘Ki Khun U Hynniewtrep.’ The Mawlai Town Durbar (MTD), a conglomeration of headmen of Mawlai Pyllun, had met on August 17, 2021 and taken decisions which I hope these wise elders had given serious thought to in view of the prevailing situation in this part of Shillong and of the consequences of such decisions. The first decision was not to take part in the Peace Committee formed by the Government under the Chairmanship of the Dy CM unless the murderers of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew were first apprehended and brought to justice. They have demanded an enquiry by the National Human Rights Commission into the Cherister killing. The Peace Committee initiated by the Government is a smokescreen, so no big loss. But there is a growing circle that believes Cherister knew too much and so had to be killed. Cattle smuggling across the border, illegal coke production, illegal mining and transport of coal, the active participation of surrendered HNLC cadres in other shady activities of this MDA Government are some of the alleged illegal activities carried on under the supervision of Cherister. These operations were allegedly run in connivance with state police personnel and the proceeds went to the highest level in the police organisation and in the political echelons that controlled the police. Cherister was in the thick of this but he was also talking to the IB, the SB and other intelligence agencies to whom he might have unwittingly spilled the beans. He had to be silenced. Our former Home Minister and the present DGP will be of great help in the investigations by the State Human Rights Commission into the August 12 incident.
The next decision of the MTD, however, defy reason. They decided that the safety of vehicles plying on the GS Road would be the responsibility of the local organisations and the Dorbars and that no policing was required. This means keeping police out of law and order duties in Mawlai. No sooner was this news out when the Governor’s cavalcade was attacked and stoned at Mawlai Iewrynghep. The stone pelters are unknown but the stones came from the direction of Iewrynghep, hence the Dorbar of that area will have to take responsibility. Fact is, the Governor is a representative of the Central Government. Luckily he was not in the vehicle but rest assured this incident will not be taken kindly by the Home Ministry. So are the assurances of the MTD just empty words or can they swiftly apprehend the culprits to prove they really have control over their respective jurisdiction?
The death and funeral procession of Cherister has demonstrated that there is strong public support for HNLC terrorists among the youth of the area. This has emboldened the HNLC to retract its offer to surrender and to renew its call for all-out war on the Indian state. The incident at the Mawkynroh Police outpost; the seizure of arms and vehicles of the police confirms the growing suspicion that Mawlai is fast becoming a base and recruiting centre for these militants. Flushed out of its camps in Bangladesh, the HNLC will now seek to operate from within Indian territory; from areas where it has public support and sympathy. From incidents of August 15, Mawlai provides the base for all future HNLC operations. Since the MTD has declared that henceforth no police presence or operations will be allowed within the Mawlai Pyllun area, is that a wise decision? Is this an open declaration by elders that henceforth Mawlai is outside the territorial jurisdiction of Indian law and its law enforcers? Are people of Mawlai and their Dorbars in open support of terrorists who seek to destroy the sovereignty and integrity of India? This, it appears, is the message conveyed by the MTD! Let’s be clear; no nation will ever allow its internal security to be compromised. This could result in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) being imposed in Meghalaya like in other militant affected NE states. This means armed soldiers will patrol every corner of Mawlai. Is that what we want? The MTD will then no longer have to deal with our own police but with the army who will be operating under the draconian AFSPA. I hope the MTD is fully aware of the consequences of its decisions and are prepared to deal with the outcome.
It is obvious by now that the killing of Cherister was a premeditated fake encounter. People are demanding that the murderers be brought to justice and rightly so. But who is the real culprit here? The man who actually pulled the trigger might be a mere trigger happy SOT constable following orders of those who planned the murder. Who had to gain the most from this fake encounter, the constable behind the weapon, or those who sent him to do it? From all the corruption and mis-governance that this MDA Govt has been indulging in with the active assistance of its police force, there are strong grounds to believe that the Chief Minister, the former Home Minister, and the DGP are the persons responsible for all the troubles that erupted in Shillong since August 13 morning. I strongly believe they had the most to gain from Cherister’s murder. Hence they are persons who we must demand to be interrogated. We must demand justice for the murder of Cherister but let’s not forget that Cherister himself was a former terrorist and killer (definitely not a martyr or a patriot as painted by some emotional hotheads).He was a surrendered militant responsible for innumerable extortions, kidnappings, murders and who made widows and orphans of our own people. The only difference between him and his murderers was that he was a surrendered outlaw while they are people elected to uphold the law. For this betrayal they deserve to be punished.
This incident will soon be forgotten. Public memory is that short. Governance and public service will, however, continue to demand the services of the Dorbars and the Rangbah Shnong. We still have Covid to fight and to figure out how to reopen our schools and to bring normalcy in our day to day lives. The Dorbars and Government will need to mutually assist each other since both work for the welfare of the public. One can understand public anger at what happened at Mawlai Kynton Massar on August 13 but life must go on. The Dorbars cannot afford to get carried away by emotions and to be seen as patrons of banned terrorist organisations. Dorbars don’t operate under the diktat of militants and neither do they provide shelter to such banned organisations. Dorbars provide security to their people; to afford their citizens the protection of the law of the land Dorbars must work with the administration and the police. Let common and the wisdom of ages prevail, let not the emotion of youthful inexperience chart our future course of action. Let’s allow maturity, wisdom and social responsibility to direct our actions. This write-up is given in the best interests of our people and with deference to our traditional Dorbars. I hope it is taken in the right spirit and in the best interests of the state and the Jaitbynriew.