Police draw flak for summoning community leader in drugs case

SHILLONG, Aug 27: The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising members from Nongsohphoh Dorbar Shnong, Mawbah Dorbar Shnong, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Mawprem, and the FKJGP Mawprem Circle, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Lumdiengjri police station for summoning Hardy Ryntathiang, the secretary of Nongsohphoh, in connection with an alleged incident involving the manhandling of a woman drug peddler.
The members of Seng Longkmie of Nongsohphoh, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, clarified that the woman in question was apprehended during an anti-drug drive conducted by JAC members on August 17.
According to the Seng Longkmie, they initially caught the woman’s son-in-law, who claimed that he had obtained the drugs from her. Following this, the woman was taken to the community hall for questioning.
The members firmly denied any allegations of physical assault, stating that they did not touch or harm the woman. They emphasised that it was they who accompanied her to the police station when the authorities arrived to take over the situation. Expressing their disappointment, the Seng Longkmie members criticised the police for summoning Ryntathiang, who they said was leading the community’s fight against drugs. They lamented that while drug peddlers and users are often released within hours of being caught, their community leader was forced to wait for hours at the police station despite his efforts to combat the drug menace.
FKJGP Mawprem Circle president Reginald Thabah also voiced his concerns, questioning the state government’s commitment to encouraging Dorbar Shnongs to work closely with the police in the fight against drugs. “No one will come forward to help the government in the fight to eradicate drugs,” Thabah warned, reflecting the frustration felt by the community over the handling of the situation.