Protocols being finalised, says Deputy CM
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 8: The state government on Monday announced that it is finalising strict protocols to curb the misuse of power and the rampant VVIP culture in Meghalaya.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong said that the state government is finalising strict protocols to curb the misuse of power and the rampant VIP culture in Meghalaya.
He said the days of impersonation, tinted glasses, and unauthorised sirens are numbered, with firm action to follow against offenders.
He also said that the government intended to send a strong message that impersonation is not acceptable under any circumstances and that, no individual will be allowed to misuse symbols of authority to display power.
He added that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is in the final stages. The Director General of Police has been directed to frame it without delay.
According to Tynsong, exemptions for the use of security paraphernalia will only be considered after review by the Home Department, both political and police, but otherwise, the crackdown will be uncompromising.
The announcement came in the wake of a high-profile arrest outside the Main Secretariat on Friday, where the police detained an individual, Mebanshem Snaitang, along with a dozen of his “bodyguards” posing as law enforcement personnel.
Three high-end vehicles were intercepted, and the police seized magazine pouches, air guns, and air pistols, preventing what could have been a serious security breach at the state’s administrative hub.
Snaitang, who described himself as a businessman and aspiring politician, is alleged to have close links with influential political figures in the state, including cabinet ministers.
Sources revealed that he regularly visited the office of a senior cabinet minister at the Secretariat. Unconfirmed reports also suggested he may have had ties with jailed HNLC leader Julius Dorphang although the police have not confirmed this.
Investigations further indicated that Snaitang has already begun preparing to contest the 2028 Assembly elections from the Mawhati constituency. His outreach reportedly includes donating chairs, providing financial aid, and gifting a large smart television to a village in the constituency.
The arrest raised questions about security lapses and the unchecked culture of privilege. The government’s promise about tough measures will now be tested on whether these new protocols can break the cycle of entitlement and misuse that has long gone unchallenged.