Editor,
I am shocked and saddened and also perturbed by the repeated incidents of rape, murder and inhuman atrocities on minor girls and women in the state, specifically in a civilized city like Shillong. For the last two / three years innumerable incidents of such heinous crime have occurred in this city. When hapless, innocent girls fall victims to death what can be more tragic? It is unfortunate, disgraceful and a discredit to the state that girls and women are highly insecure and their chastity is at stake. A matrilineal state like Meghalaya where women’s rights dignity, and chastity are should be respected; where women should be able to move freely and fearlessly, how can such disastrous moral deterioration befall this sacred place? Today, new of rape of minor girls or brutal killing of women are reported by the media with repeated frequency. It is worth mentioning that U Tirot Singh, the great son of the soil, sacrificed his life to protect the chastity and security of the women of his land. He vehemently protested against the proposal of the British government to construct a public road through his estate connecting Guwahati to Sylhet. He could foresee that this would impinge on the privacy and chastity of the women of his land. That was the first issue of his revolution against the British Government.
Alas! Where is that sprit today? Only two / three decades back, I personally recollect how safe it was for girls/ women to move around in Shillong. We were only scared of drunkards. But even drunkards were not without morals as we find them today. The local guys were always very gentle, courteous and helpful to the women as a whole. Ugly incidents like rape, killing, molestations etc were rarely heard, and society was conscious of its sanctity. Today beastly creatures in human form are chasing them mercilessly as sexual prey. Sometimes the protector / guardian like father, uncle becomes the predator.
What can be more pathetic than that and where is the solution? The recent incident of rape and brutal killing of Shailinia Kharrymba, a teenager of Upper Shillong is a heart wrenching incident. The girl fell victim because of her refusal to the ugly proposal of the culprits. Women are physically weaker than men and despite their resistance they cannot fight the rapists. Hats off to Mrs Dlet Syiemlieh, ( mother of the main accused Vicky Syiemlieh ) who has the great honesty and courage to hand over her own son to the police. In this age of corruption and denial, 99.99 % mothers irrespective of their educational status would not have the moral courage to confess the truth because of the desire to protect their family reputations and social prestige.
Here is an ideal woman who has the real sense of morality and sensibility, who did not walk the path of indulge injustice despite her motherly affection towards the guilty son. She is an exemplary mother ! As citizens we depend on the law and order machinery. We should put pressure on the police to control such open barbarism in the heart of the city, Law and order must be more stringent and the culprits should be treated sternly to stop repetition of the crime. No bail should be granted to the accused even if influential persons interfere. Exemplary punishment should be given to the culprits to stop repetition of the crime. Unfortunately we have not heard of a single exemplary punishment being imposed on rapists and murderers in the state till date. Justice delayed is justice denied. In Meghalaya criminal cases are pending and delayed due to absence of proper investigation and other departmental formalities. This emboldens others who want to commit similar crimes. It must be pointed out that the conviction rate in Meghalaya is extremely low; hence the rise in crimes! No amount of protests and candle light processions seem to hasten the legal process in crimes that are often open and shut cases. How long can women tolerate this weak and debilitating justice delivery system?
Yours etc
Uma Purkayastha
Shillong – 4
Shillong Archery
Editor,
In Meghalaya archery is a legal gamble with licenses issued to individuals to conduct the business. My only question to the authorities is what if someone wins a huge amount from archery? How can the person declare that source of income while depositing the cash in the banks? Firstly, there is no document/receipt for the money from the archery counters, and in no case will the archery counter pay by cheque. I hope, the authorities will clarify this issue.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kr Das
Shillong-6
Tobacco extracts a heavy cost
Editor,
Apropos your editorial titled, “Public health” (ST April 1, 2016), toxic-tobacco consumption must be checked if the management of preventable disorders is to be improved. Tobacco users damage not only their own heath but also the health of their near ones. Passive smoking and passive inhaling of the dust of chewing tobacco are at least as injurious to health as that of direct tobacco consumption. In this context, it needs to be recalled that those who chew tobacco have severely, damaged Howrah Bridge in Kolkata with their happy-golucky spitting culture. This cantilevered steel suspension bridge is one of the busiest bridges of the world. Though it has withstood the weight of huge traffic load, officials say that it cannot survive the gallons of corrosive chewing tobacco spat on its pillar hoods. Experts also say that any damage to the steel hoods, which shield the girders and hangers from water, can make the bridge unsafe. If chewing tobacco can corrode such a solid world famous structure and its steel frame, it can, easily, be gauged what a menace it can become for human health. Studies suggest about a million people die from tobacco-related illness in India each year and tobacco-related health costs in 2012 were estimated to be an astronomical sum of Rs104,000 crore! Health costs and lives lost to tobacco far outweigh any revenue the tobacco sector generates. Therefore, we need bigger, bolder and sharper pictorial tobacco-warnings in all toxictobacco packets that contain the poison in the form of cigarettes, beedis, snuffs or its chewing avatar.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
