By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 27: Raising concerns over internal security, criminal investigation, recruitment transparency and road safety enforcement, Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma on Friday presented a detailed critique of how the state’s Police Department is functioning.
During a discussion in the Assembly, Sangma said the police organisation is an integral part of the administration of justice and not merely a law-and-order enforcing agency. He said the outcome of criminal cases depends on how efficiently the department takes cognisance of offences, conducts investigations and files charge sheets.
Stating that delays and deficiencies in investigation often result in cases being closed by courts due to lack of evidence, he sought updated information on sanctioned strength and manpower deployment across police stations, particularly in challenging districts such as South Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills and border areas.
Referring to earlier exercises to categorise police stations based on required strength, Sangma said the frontier states in the Northeast require additional institutional support considering the nature of security challenges.
The Opposition leader claimed that he received inputs regarding movement of men carrying sophisticated weapons in forest areas of the Garo Hills region. He said he had spoken with certain officers and stressed that there is no scope for complacency in matters of internal security. Referring to a recent incident in West Garo Hills, he said certain inputs had been brought to the notice of authorities at the highest level.
He also raised concerns about the deployment of the Special Force (SF-10), stating that units trained for specialised operations should not be diverted to routine duties such as traffic management. He suggested that battalions could be deployed outside the state where required, with the deploying authority bearing the cost, thereby creating further employment opportunities for local youth.
On recruitment, Sangma questioned delays in declaration of results and called for complete transparency, including disclosure of marks obtained in physical and written examinations. He recalled a previous policy decision to lower educational qualification for constable posts to allow school dropouts to compete, with higher weightage assigned to physical tests to create a level playing field.
He said prolonged delays in recruitment and lack of clarity in result publication contribute to frustration among youth, and warned that shrinking government employment opportunities can aggravate public dissatisfaction.
Turning to road safety, Sangma said the police play a central role in enforcement and must ensure compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court on road safety management. He referred to the functioning of District Road Safety Committees, identification of accident-prone “black spots,” and the need for regular review meetings.
Sangma also stated that accident victims are entitled to cashless treatment under applicable guidelines and urged strict compliance with such provisions.
He emphasised that strengthening investigation processes, ensuring transparent recruitment, maintaining specialised security preparedness and strictly enforcing road safety norms are essential to restoring public confidence in the Police Department.
