Editor,
It is now several months since Shillong was rudely traumatized by widespread unrest in the wake of an assault incident of the Khasi youths by the locals of the Them Metor. As a sequel to this upheaval, we have experienced closure of educational institutions, indefinite closure of Iewduh. The lives of those residents in parts of Shillong’s West, North and Mawlai localities had been derailed owing to imposition of prolonged curfews.
In the aftermath of the turmoil and in consonance with the agitators’/public’s demand, the State Govt. constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) to explore convincing options as to how the residential employees of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), who are occupying the Them Metor could be shifted to a suitable and salubrious Govt. land in Shillong. Incidentally, in the heat of unprecedented public ire, three of our MLAs, Messrs Lambor Malngiang, Banteidor Lyngdoh and Edilbert Nongrum arrived at Motphran and standing at an elevated podium they had managed to temper the seething atmosphere by affirming before the restive crowd that the Govt. had resolved to shift the residents in question at the earliest. The trio were thus able to cope with the highly charged crowd. .
Alas! After all the mayhem, destructions et al, things are now apparently back to square one, notwithstanding the setting up of the HLC, chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister, P. Tynsong. The re-settlement issue is far from being resolved. I, for one, believe that the house-holders of Them Metor will move tooth and nail and may even appeal to the Punjab Chief Minister and other personalities of their preference to see that they are not uprooted from the dwellings they have been occupying since long. The riddle why these people are so hell bent on staying put in these specific spaces is perhaps not far to unravel: The pre-eminent logic of their unwillingness to shift is because their residential locations is a money churning area, as it is adjacent to one of the biggest markets of the North East, called Iewduh. It is therefore, precisely on the basis of such enviable economic advantages that the residents would go to extraordinary lengths to secure themselves in Them Metor for good, come what may.
The above assertions are backed by my personal observations when decades ago I was with one of the Central Govt. establishments in Shillong and was tasked with carrying out a socio-economic survey in these very locales. While proceeding with house to house listing and collecting data queries, I could intuitively grasp that several of the inmates were tenants being sub-let at exorbitant monthly rents by the actual Municipal appointees. Furthermore, the bonafide allottees also engaged in varied business enterprises in and around the localities, being adjacent to the financial hub of the city and thereby making a quick buck. In view of such opportunistic fortunes, I can’t see why these dwellers would want to be relocated elsewhere. Hence, much water shall flow under the Mawlai bridge but things would invariably remain as they have been as far as the shifting of Them Metor is concerned.
Yours etc,,
- K. Diengdoh,
Via email
Sohra district justified
Editor,
Apropos the news item “Pynursla headmen want Laitlyngkot Headquarters of Sohra District” (ST.October 22, 2018), it was reported that the Sirdars of Raid Shabong, Raid Lyngkhat, Raid Rangnah, Raid Mukertilla, Raid Mawlam, Raid Mawshun, Raid Mawkhlieng and Raid Umniuh Tmar have endorsed that Laitlyngkot should be the headquarters of Sohra District. Their demand is fully justified because of geographical reasons. In other words the whole of Pynursla Civil Sub-Division will agree to be under Sohra District if Laitlyngkot is made the headquarters of Sohra District. Indeed, the people residing under Pynursla Civil Sub-Division would find it difficult to reach Sohra if it is made the HQ of Sohra District because of the roundabout distance (geographical connectivity). They will find it easier to come to Shillong than go all the way to Sohra. But if Sohra District, is created even though the geographical area is small then Sohra would still qualify to be the District HQ because of its name and fame and its historical importance.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Let justice prevail!
Editor,
Any form of militancy cannot be condoned by any government be it the Centre or State. The Meghalaya Government had earnestly been working towards the dissolution of the militant outfit the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for more than three decades now. The initiative of the governments in the past had been to welcome and rehabilitate those cadres of the outfit who have returned to mainstream living. October 18, 2018 saw the surrender and return of Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew, the former General Secretary of HNLC. Fair enough that the man chose to come back to his land, family and friends and wishes to start life anew. However one fails to understand the tribute, accolades, red carpet welcome that was given to Mr Thangkhiew on his surrender. If one had only looked at the picture in the newspapers and social media without going through the news report one would have surmised that the man had been given all the above tributes after having achieved something glorious for the State. It seemed as if he has come home victorious from a battlefield. Well, the real intention of the piece is on The Shillong Times poll, (October 23, 2018) where 905 people voted that Thangkhiew must be tried for numerous criminal charges that he was guilty of as a member of the outfit. After all no one is above the law. If justice is to thrive every citizen of the country must be measured by the same yardstick. Only then will the legal system be upheld. Ordinary citizens have no one to rely on but the laws and judicial procedures of the country. So let justice prevail!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
