SHILLONG, July 27: Home Minister, Prestone Tynsong suspected that the recent attempt to allegedly harm Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Tura was politically motivated.
Without naming any political party, he said many of the arrested persons belong to some political parties. He said the incident was seemingly planned by some political parties. He said law and order in Tura is now under control.
He asked the police to be more aggressive and proactive in such issues even as he admitted the state government and the police need to be more vigilant. He said people cannot play with law and order for self-interest.
“Police need to be more active on all fronts. It is not just about intelligence,” Tynsong said.
Asked if there could be an independent inquiry, he said law should be allowed to take its own course and any other move can be discussed next.
“In my calculation, since most of the arrested persons belong to A, B and C parties, it (violence) seems to be politically motivated,” the Home Minister said.
He denied any lapses on the part of the police but said there is a need to improve the Police department further.
“The police, including intelligence, will be more active on all fronts. We will do our best,” he said.
Tynsong slammed Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former chief minister, Mukul Sangma for his statement that Tura police are working at the behest of their political masters.
“Is he trying to say that during his time as the chief minister, he used all police officers for his own interests? If yes, then that is very unfortunate,” the Home Minister said.
Health Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh also took an indirect dig at the TMC. She stressed on putting an end to “mafia political warfare” that is disrupting an otherwise peaceful state.
She said the mafia of some political parties, which operate in other parts of the state, are slowly entering Meghalaya politics. She said the people of the state must say no to this “intrusive application of political patronage which is becoming a dangerous trend.”
Referring to video clippings where inciting messages and speeches were made by certain individuals of certain political parties, Lyngdoh reiterated that political mafia culture is taking shape in Meghalaya.
“We must, at all costs, disallow it because it is unhealthy for cordial co-existence of political parties,” she said and pointed out that such culture was unheard of in the state since it attained statehood 51 years ago. She stressed that the political parties must maintain a cordial relationship.
“We may be having separate roles but we need to co-exist. We cannot allow this and we must take stringent action as per law against people misusing political forums and creating hatred,” Lyngdoh said.
She said all investigations indicated the involvement of certain cadres of certain political parties in the Tura incident. She lauded the police for promptly nabbing all the culprits.
“I am privy to information which says there is a political party that is denying its involvement directly in the violence. You may deny it but facts have to be taken into consideration,” the Minister stated.
On the TMC’s demand to suspend the DGP and the SP of West Garo Hills, she said, “They cannot say that X, Y and Z should be removed.” She said if the party has any issues, it can take legal recourse.
