By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 13: The state BJP has slammed the East Khasi Hills district administration for failing to curb crimes against children in Shillong and demanded the immediate removal of Deputy Commissioner Rosetta Mary Kurbah.
The party’s general secretary, Wankitbok Pohshna, resented the administration’s failure in checking the “sudden, unprecedented, and shocking surge” of crime against children, some as young as four.
“The district authorities should not need us to remind them of their duty or to tell them how to perform their duty. The officers responsible need to exercise their power regardless of any pressure. If this is not happening, the government must immediately remove such officers who are not fit to run the district administration and replace them with more efficient, responsible personnel,” he said on Monday.
Lambasting the district administration for “failing to discharge its duties from every angle”, the party leader said the authorities have done nothing to ensure deterrence despite several such incidents.
“There is no heightened police presence, no regular patrolling, and no organised night vigil to make sure criminals don’t get a free run. Such measures are a must in all sensitive areas, and the entry-exit points have to be monitored round the clock in all such localities and adjoining areas where such crimes are being reported,” Pohshna said.
Asking the district administration to immediately seek help from the Dorbars, while deploying VDP and police personnel for enhanced security, he said that all schools should be asked to step up security and involve volunteers to ensure the safety of children.
“However, one glance at the ground reality and it becomes obvious that no such measure has been adopted for Shillong,” he said, accusing the administration of becoming active only during the Cherry Blossom Festival or football tournaments.
“The late-night drinking inside cars in many localities continues to be a source of nuisance in many parts of Shillong. In all areas known to be hubs of drugs and addicts, the administration needs to work actively with localities to keep a check on crime,” Pohshna said, adding that crimes against children need proper investigation.
The party asked the government to rope in experts and seek help from the Home Ministry to ensure that the conditions leading to such crimes are weeded out at the grassroots level. The party also suspected organised crime was taking place across localities.
Senior BJP leaders, however, seemed to steer clear of the party’s demand.
Former minister Alexander L. Hek said he was not aware of the party holding any press conference and making such demands.
“I don’t see any relation between the demand to remove the DC and the surge in criminal cases like murder and abduction. The police and intelligence officials need to be questioned and not the Deputy Commissioner, who does not deal with criminal cases,” he said.
