SHILLONG, Sep 9: Leader of the Opposition, Mukul Sangma, on Monday criticised the Meghalaya government for what he termed as the misuse of police resources, particularly in providing security cover to political appointees, including Daniel Thangkhiew, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Sangma questioned the logic behind allocating security personnel to individuals whose lives, he claimed, are not under any direct threat.
Sangma expressed his concerns about the unnecessary expenditure of public funds on what he described as the unjustified use of police resources. He said he will be demanding a state security meeting to address this wasteful spending of public money by misusing the police authorities.
He also accused the government of nepotism and favouritism in its political appointments, specifically pointing out the case of former MP Agatha Sangma. “It’s not just about Agatha Sangma. This reflects the larger pattern of nepotism and favouritism with which the government operates, with impunity,” he said.
The opposition leader argued that these political appointees are being provided with privileges that go beyond their entitled perks, including unnecessary security cover.
“Tell me, which of these political appointees have dealt with insurgency or militancy that their lives are now under threat?” Sangma questioned, implying that the security cover is being used for personal display rather than genuine protection.
He further criticised the process by which security decisions are made, stating that the threat level for individuals should be evaluated thoroughly before assigning police protection. “You can’t just call the Superintendent of Police and tell them to give security to someone without proper assessment,” he added.
Sangma called for greater transparency from the police regarding the basis for granting security to political appointees. He also promised that if it is found that unnecessary protection and resources have been provided, he will demand a refund for the public funds spent.
He further stated that there needs to be a proper review of all political appointees receiving police protection, as well as accountability for any misuse of public resources. “If police personnel and vehicles are being used just to show off, we will demand that every rupee be refunded by those responsible for providing these privileges,” he said.
