TMC wants rethink on scam-tainted cop’s transfer

SHILLONG, Sep 14: Meghalaya Trinamool Congress president and Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope on Wednesday drew the attention of the House to the recent reports of an alleged vehicle scam in the Meghalaya Police Headquarters and urged Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui to reconsider the transfer of Additional Inspector General of Police (Administration) GK Iangrai as Commandant of the Special Forces-10 until the allegations against him are cleared.
Stating that the SF-10 is an elite counter-insurgency force aimed at ensuring peace and harmony, Pyngrope said in this instance the officer on whom aspersions have been cast has been given a bigger responsibility instead.
“I believe the Police department has to rethink its recent moves until responsibility for the irregularities are fixed. As a citizen and Member of the House I request the Home department to come clean on this so that there should not be any alleged aspersions cast on the department for something which they have not done. If done, then that should be rectified so that the people of the state will repose confidence in the police,” Pyngrope said while taking part in the short-duration discussion on the safety and security of the people in the state, moved by Umroi MLA George B Lyngdoh.
Pyngrope said for any state to prosper and for people to benefit, there is a need to have every department working with utmost integrity and transparency. For the past many years, the Police department has maintained this decorum and ensured peace and tranquillity, he said.
Stating that a section of the media has pointed out to the scam in the Police department, Pyngrope said that although he does not have facts and figures to confirm these serious allegations, such irregularities do not augur well for the institution or the Home department.
“When an Assistant Inspector General of Police (Administration) is allegedly involved in a scam it sends shivers down all of our spines,” Pyngrope said, adding that if such irregularities have happened then questions arise if there were irregularities in the department in the past as well. If Iangrai’s actions tantamount to misleading the Home department, it will not be in the fitness of things because the confidence of the people will be shaken and the morale of the police force will be brought down.
North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum wondered how the AIG (A) can attend work when he is the accused in a scam. The MLA, however, left it to the wisdom of the state government to take a call on the matter.
Action sought against cops in Cheristerfield case
The Ka Sur Ki Nong Mawlai’s demand for an independent probe into the killing of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew found resonance in the Assembly on Wednesday with some members demanding action against the cops involved in the killing and others seeking an independent inquiry.
TMC’s George B Lyngdoh said the report by Justice (retired) T Vaiphei pointed to thoughtless and excessive use of force and a reckless exercise by the state police which led to the death of late Thangkhiew.
He said that people after seeing the report are demanding justice and action against the cops. The people are questioning the authority who had sent the team and wondering if there was a criminal conspiracy behind the killing.
“As the Opposition, we demand that an independent inquiry be conducted to find the culprits and the motive behind the killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew,” Lyngdoh said.
Nongkrem MLA Lambor Malngiang endorsed the same view and requested the state government for an independent probe.
TMC’s HM Shangpliang said the senseless and brutal use of force is a blot on Meghalaya Police otherwise known to be elite, discipline and people friendly.
Questioning if the killing of Thangkhiew was a criminal conspiracy, he said the former HNLC leader was not active and had no sophisticated weapon with him at the time of the raid.
He said that after the inquiry commission report on the killing as tabled it was expected that the state government would initiate action, but the government is silent and yet to take any action against those involved.
“I demand penal action against those who killed Cheristerfield Thangkhiew. People of Mawlai are looking at the government for justice,” he said.
Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie said he failed to understand why the names of those involved in the operation were omitted from the report.
He pointed out the family has sought a CBI probe and as the local MLA he also endorsed the demand.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh wanted the government to tell the people what action it will initiate to prevent any recurrence.
North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum said he does not support the HNLC but endorses the constitutional right to live.