Editor,
In the last few days, the people of the State received the horrifying news that two students from Meghalaya, both teenagers, died under controversial circumstances in Karnataka. Apparently, the students with 29 other inmates were staying in an unauthorised hostel run by a private school in T Kagepura village, Mandya district, Karnataka. It appears to be a case of food poisoning after the boys consumed leftover foods prepared for Holi celebrations elsewhere. What is outrageous is the fact that they were made to consume leftover food? I realise the boys must have come from a poor family but making them eat leftover food is like treating them like untouchables, which itself is highly despicable. It’s notable that the organisation, Lei Synshar Cultural Society (LSCS), which facilitated the travel of students from Meghalaya to Karnataka for their studies, is the same organisation featured in a TEHELKA magazine article about young children from indigenous faiths being sent away to study. Sanjana Chappalli wrote this report, titled, ‘A Strange and Bitter Crop,’ and I urge others to find and read it online. There are some unsavoury things mentioned about this whole initiative, which I feel people should know about. It could very well be that the Lei Synshar Cultural Society (LSCS) is actually trying to help poor children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds who have no other choice to get education. But we cannot condone the death of our children away from their homes, regardless of the supposed good intentions. I have come to know that the village, Lyndem, from where one of the children hails is on the way to my village, Nonjri-Rana.
Recently, an individual named Akash Sagar, chanted “Jai Shri Ram” inside the church at Mawlynnong and Angela Rangad had filed an FIR against him. However, authorities have taken no action yet. There are non-indigenous people from outside the state coming to our indigenous territory and claiming one of our lands, Mawjymbuin Caves, as their own. And now, two of our children have passed away far from their homeland. I am completely against false Khasi victimhood, which blames non-Khasis for all our problems. But I am also upset that our government has not shown enough inclination to ensure that some of the legitimate issues are being addressed. Why haven’t authorities arrested Akash Sagar to date? In the present food poisoning case, the news is that there have been some arrests which are welcome. However, the expose in TEHELKA is highly disconcerting.
There is a need for thorough investigation into the matter. The report could be malicious and there’s no truth in it. But after this incident, we need to know if our children are safe. I hope the Government will take this seriously and will not assume that our people have short-term memory and that we don’t care about what happens to our brethren, so we’ll forget and move on with our lives. The government is gravely mistaken if they think this will be forgotten. They have already got a political shock and if they are not careful, they might get a bigger shock in the future. It will not be forgotten and it will not be allowed to be forgotten.
Yours etc.,
Bhogtoram Mawroh,
Via email
Need to probe role of LSCS
Editor,
The death of two teenagers from Meghalaya in a Karnataka illegally school-run hostel and the 29 other Meghalaya students being hospitalized, and the allegations of food poisoning from their being fed leftover food from other festival celebrations, is SHOCKING!
My deepest, and heartfelt, condolences to the family members of the two students Khrehlang Khongtani and Namebantei Marwein and a prayer for God’s comfort on the bereaved family, as well as wishing God’s care on the other 29 ill young people.
We thank the Government of Meghalaya, and the Chief Secretary, for the quick response and sending officials to Karnataka. But more important now, after these unfortunate kids are all brought back (and I hope they will be,y willingly), is the culpability, if any, of the Lei Synshar Cultural Society (LSCS) and a probe into any link it may have with the RSS (which seems glaring now, especially in the absence of other information from the state government). A social organisation cannot say it does not know the antecedents of the organisation/school it is sending young rural teenagers to! I don’t buy that!
We need to stop this now, or such tragic incidents will keep on occurring in the future, with our young boys and girls from the rural areas being “recruited” for studies by so-called social/welfare organisations whose character is suspect!
Yours etc.,
Eugene Thomas,
Shillong – 6