Editor,
Days after escaping from jail, four prisoners including the infamous I Love You Talang were murdered by an angry mob. Mob lynching, simply put is an act of murder and it can in no way be justified. However, the bigger question is what would’ve happened to these prisoners had they not been lynched to death. Would they go into hiding forever or would they once again join the world of crime and create fear and terror in society? Considering the situation in this case, what the mob lynchers did was probably the best solution they could come up with, because they can neither trust the police or the jail authorities anymore and they felt that they could not risk the lives of their loved ones with such criminals roaming around.
It is also astonishing as to how 6 people could overpower the securities guarding the jail? Are the guards not trained enough to handle such situations? Are they not trained to use their weapons properly during such emergencies? This is not the first time that accused prisoners have tried escaping from jails, therefore, it is surprising how despite all the successful attempts that have been made by prisoners, the authorities still cannot handle such situations.
The other worrisome thing is how people like I Love You Talang, who have already had records of committing violent crimes are able to roam free, able to get bail easily. The Police and the Judiciary really need to step up efforts to safeguard our society.
It is high time for the government to change the laws. The penal laws of the country that is almost 160 years old, needs a change. Punishments need to be more severe, especially when it comes to habitual offenders, because it is hard to reform a person who has become a habitual offender.
Yours etc.,
Reakor Shisha Kharkrang,
Laitmynsaw Village,
Upper Shillong
Scapegoating the frontline staff
Editor,
Everyone from the frontline staff to jail authorities to politicians must help prevent the escape of undertrial prisoners. They all need to work in tandem, otherwise it’s impossible to prevent future jail break attempts. This letter comes as a response to news item that a murder convict was able to escape on June 22 this year after he was asked by jail authorities to wash an ambulance.
Warders/security staff posted at District jails recognize they are a very important part of the criminal justice system and place their lives on the line every day in order to keep some of the worst people on earth from escaping and harming the innocent. The primary task of the warders will be to ensure discipline and general functioning of prisons. However, Jowai jail is grossly understaffed (temporary Warders were also on duty when the September 10 jailbreak happened). Then we have the District Jail, Jowai with a capacity for 130 inmates but currently housing 250 (Info from megprisons Website) .
While more emphasis needs to be placed on the issue of preventing prison escapes, in order to accomplish that, jail employees need proper training, manpower and equipment. Politicians need to hold up their end of the responsibility to jail employees and to the public and ensure that the staff and prison facilities receive proper security, tactical and self-defence equipment necessary to perform their jobs.
It appears that there is lack of proper infrastructure, poor quality of supervision, acute shortage of manpower leading to prolonged hours of duty resulting in fatigue and exhaustion. Furthermore, there is misuse of human rights provisions by some jail inmates up to the extent where jail staff at District Jail, Jowai are not provided with a single lathi to protect themselves or deter unruly activities inside the jail in spite of being outrageously outnumbered.
Two personnel on duty were stabbed repeatedly by sharp objects, one on the head, another on the right arm. They bled profusely and any delay in treatment could have cost them their lives. They are currently in Ialong Civil Hospital. Hence the hasty arrest of Jowai Jail employees on duty shows that this Government is quick to punish without investigation but slow or rather unwilling to do anything about matters with solid proofs around allegations, scams, etc., just because it suits them.
Yours etc.,
Concerned Citizens of Jowai,
Names withheld on request
Time to legalise all mining
Editor,
I agree wholeheartedly with this paper’s editorial entitled ‘Time to legalise coal mining’ (ST Sep 8, 2022). In truth, all natural resource mining should be legalised throughout India and the government needs to get out of the way by reducing the burden of regulatory requirements. This would benefit the economy in two ways: first, cheaper prices for the goods that rely on minerals and other natural resources (almost everything we use relies on fossil fuels); and second, more job opportunities as there is an expansion of economic activity in this area.
Western nations, including in particular Australia which is a major exporter of coal, oil and gas, have long understood the wisdom of enabling private companies to profit from mining activities.
However, it is true that all mining is inherently risky. That is why workers in the mining industry get paid significantly more than ordinary office workers – at least in those countries where private companies dominate the sector. The large pay packets of mining workers is to compensate them for the increased risk of injury and death that they routinely bear.
In Europe, the energy crisis where ordinary consumers are seeing a doubling of their utility bills is a direct result of the closure of coal, oil and gas plants which has constricted the supply of energy. These closures have been advocated for by climate change fanatics who are unable to grasp the concept of weighing costs and benefits in a balanced manner.
India is on the path from a backward nation to a developed country. Ironically, the barriers imposed on mining mean that India is also a net importer of natural resources. This needs to change. India can produce energy cheaply and should not need to import from abroad.
In terms of environmental impacts, countries like Australia that grant mining permits more easily are cleaner than India in every respect: water, air pollution or any other environmental measure one cares to examine. This is because they strongly protect the private property rights of citizens who are adversely impacted by mining. Any mining company that harms someone should be liable to be sued for damages via the judicial system.
Yours etc.,
Dr Sukrit Sabhlok
New South Wales,
Australia