By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 6: Pledging to dismantle Meghalaya’s entrenched VIP culture, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Saturday held the MDA government responsible for encouraging practices that have now spilled into acts of intimidation. The party’s attack came in the wake of the arrest of an impersonator and his armed entourage outside the Main Secretariat.
Nongkrem MLA and VPP supremo Ardent M Basaiawmoit said the episode exposed the dangers of unchecked privilege.
“The Superintendent of Police EKHD was right when he said that moving around in public places with twelve gunmen, is an attempt to intimidate people which can be termed as an act of terrorism. This is the result of the VIP culture that MDA government has been promoting in the state of Meghalaya,” he asserted.
He went on to assure voters that the practice would be abolished if the VPP comes to power. “The Voice of the People Party is promising to the people of the state that it shall put an end to the practice of VIP culture once we come to power in 2028,” Basaiawmoit declared.
The incident that triggered the criticism unfolded on Friday when Shillong Police apprehended Mebanshem Snaitang of Pohkseh, along with a dozen of his “henchmen.” Three high-end vehicles an unregistered Audi A4, a Scorpio (ML05 AF 0309), and a Toyota Innova (T0922 ML7411A) were seized with magazine pouches, air guns, and air pistols, averting what could have been a major security breach in the capital.
East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem confirmed the seizure, stating, “Today at about 2.30 pm one Audi A4 (Red colour) without registration number, one Scorpio (ML05 AF 0309) and Toyota Innova (black colour) (T0922 ML7411A) were seen parked outside Shoppers Stop, IGP. All vehicles had tinted glass where one of them was fitted with a siren and all of these vehicles were owned by Mebanshem Snaitang, a resident of Pohkseh Shillong.”