SHILLONG, July 18: Cabinet minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh has asked the police to take firm decisions to instil a sense of security among the people.
Her statement followed a series of incidents in Shillong, including an attack on her by a machete-wielding man who first pelted stones at her residence on July 11.
A few days ago, a popular tourist spot in the city suffered from drunken rowdyism that saw miscreants torching three vehicles inside the Laitumkhrah police station. This incident followed several attacks on police personnel.
“There is a need to take strict decisions to check indiscipline and maintain law and order,” Lyngdoh said.
“Even MLAs are not safe. So many MLAs have been attacked. The police will have to take firm decisions,” she said, adding that the legislators, administrators, and the police would have to be on the same page for ensuring security.
Expressing confidence in Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s handling of the Home Department, she advocated action against those misusing social media platforms and creating problems.
Lyngdoh also stressed the need to discuss the legislation of more laws to stop people from crossing the line. “We need to ensure lawlessness does not prevail,” she said.
The police cannot be seen struggling to defend a police station, as the Laitumkhrah incident conveyed, she said.
Miscreants have often held the local authorities to ransom since 2019 when the leader of an influential students’ organisation slapped an officer inside a police station in the Ri-Bhoi district.
In 2021, masked miscreants snatched three assault rifles, damaged police vehicles, and torched an SUV after taking it for a joyride while brandishing the guns during a protest following the killing of former HNLC leader, Cheristerfield Thangkhiew. The rifles were later recovered from the Wahumkhrah River.
Last year, rioters attacked three women police constables inside the Shillong Civil Hospital premises.
‘ILP follows some procedure’
Lyngdoh said the introduction of the inner-line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya would require the Centre’s consent.
All the ministers led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma are likely to visit New Delhi soon to impress upon the Centre to implement the ILP and include the Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
“We will definitely not like to see these matters hanging but the people should know there are certain procedures and rules to be followed,” she said.
Lyngdoh also said the government has been trying to conduct examinations in the local languages to fulfil certain criteria for their recognition via the Eighth Schedule.
She criticised the Khasi Authors’ Society for accusing the state government of not pushing for the recognition of the two languages over the last five years.
