By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 12: Former Cabinet minister and advisor to the state government, Paul Lyngdoh, has called for the creation of more Village Defence Parties (VDPs) and a Territorial Army unit to strengthen law enforcement amid rising crimes against children.
He emphasised the urgent need, as Meghalaya has one of the lowest police-to-civilian ratios in the country, and its policing capacity has been stretched thin.
Lyngdoh, responding to the outrage over a series of crimes involving minors, said the state’s limited police strength makes it impossible to ensure presence everywhere, especially in densely populated urban areas like Shillong.
He stressed that while police visibility is essential, the force needs active community partners on the ground. “The real foot soldiers of the police department should be organisations like the VDPs,” he said.
He explained that Meghalaya’s capital, with almost 7 lakh people, has only 11 functional VDPs, an “alarmingly low number” that leaves large parts of the city without community-based surveillance or immediate local response.
Lyngdoh said this gap underscores why community policing must become a shared responsibility rather than a burden placed entirely on the police.
Aware of public resentment caused by recent remarks made by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, he urged people to see the broader context.
He cited global examples like New York, where community policing plays a vital role in maintaining law and order, saying Meghalaya too must cultivate such a culture of civic vigilance and cooperation.
He said he discussed with the Chief Secretary the idea of initiating a Territorial Army unit in the state to complement regular policing efforts and provide an added layer of security. According to him, both VDPs and the Territorial Army would serve as “constructive, unifying solutions” to strengthen peace and security rather than allowing divisions or blame to fester.
Lyngdoh said Meghalaya continues to enjoy a rare social harmony that must be protected through proactive community engagement. Echoing Governor C.H. Vijayashankar’s recent observation that he had “never come across a state as peaceful as Meghalaya”, Lyngdoh said it was now the collective responsibility of the government, traditional institutions, and citizens to preserve that peace, especially when the safety of children is at stake.
Border tension
Lyngdoh, who was recently appointed advisor to the Social Welfare Department, said he would be meeting Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday to receive the latest inputs on the recent border skirmish at Lapangap, adding that he discussed the matter with the Home Minister a few days ago.
He claimed that the government is taking all possible measures to stabilise the border region and appealed to citizens to maintain peace and calm during this sensitive phase.
Referring to the long-standing volatility of the border, Lyngdoh noted that the Lapangap area has remained vulnerable for quite some time.
He explained that although both states have succeeded in narrowing down the points of difference across the disputed stretches, a complete and lasting resolution will still take time. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed that the government remains firmly committed to safeguarding the lives and property of residents living in these sensitive areas.
Asked whether the government’s inability to be proactive led to the current flare-up, Lyngdoh maintained that it would be premature to draw such conclusions.
He said it is equally the responsibility of the media to assess the situation on the ground, examine what the government has done, and identify what may be lacking, so that people receive a clear and credible picture.
He added that as a government representative, any defence he offers is often viewed as an attempt to justify even the indefensible.
Lyngdoh said the government, therefore, welcomes efforts to facilitate media access to the affected areas, so that journalists can witness for themselves the kind of security arrangements in place and the steps being taken to restore calm along the interstate boundary.
