The demand for a thorough probe into the IED blasts that killed Jonathone Sangma and four others on February 18, this year should not die down. This killing is nothing short of a political assassination and requires that the Government of the day gets down to the task of nailing the murderers. The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was blamed for the dastardly act even before the facts could be established. It is convenient to blame a militant outfit, although, the GNLA quite contrary to its modus operandi did not own up to the act. Then followed the killing of Sohan Shira less than a week later, in what appears to be a pre-meditated act carefully calibrated and without signs of an encounter. Even this requires a probe and cannot be brushed under the carpet simply because Sohan Shira himself was an outlaw.
On Tuesday, the murder of a pressure group leader from Jaintia Hills who is known to be an active RTI activist following the murky deals of cement companies and their collusion with members of the Jaintia Hills District Council, show that all is not well in the law and order situation in Meghalaya. Once again it has to be reiterated that the conviction rate for crimes including murder and rape is a pitiable 5 %. This only encourages law breakers to have the last laugh. Relentless public pressure on the law enforcers and the justice system to speed up investigations on these critical cases of political assassinations is imperative. Meghalaya cannot degenerate into the status of the BIMARU states in its development index or in the law and order scale. Public expectations from the new Government are high. They expect the rule of law to prevail above all else. The new Home Minister has a lot on his hands. He needs to hold the police accountable and ensure that they deliver.
