SHILLONG, March 10: An adamant Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, on Wednesday, refuted all claims dubbing Khyndai Lad as a pick-up point of sex workers.
“No”: Rymbui’s single-word reply to the query of North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum during the Question Hour of the Assembly dissatisfied the latter, who stressed that it is a serious subject and demanded to know the stand of the government on the issue.
The home minister, who seemed reluctant to provide an elaborate response, said, “The reply is no, but the concern is being noted and the government has also taken it seriously”.
He informed that the anti-human trafficking units, constituted across all state districts, are on the job to prevent such activities. “Being concerned, we constituted the anti-human trafficking units and surveillance teams so as to thwart such practices,” said Rymbui. “Lastly, to the best of my knowledge, it (Khyndai Lad) is not a pick-up point of sex workers but only passengers.”
Rymbui also claimed to have gone down to Khyndai Lad junction during the relaxation of lockdown curbs in the city to taste street food but failed to see any activity as claimed by the North Shillong MLA.
As the House burst into laughter, Nongrum reminded that the issue is not to be joked about, while daring the home minister to accompany him for a stroll in the area one evening to witness the “truth” himself.
“If the home minister really means business, spare your precious time and roam with me from 10 pm and you will realise the fact. Are you ready to take a round?” the MLA said.
Nongrum reasoned that if the state government is not serious and is unable to control it, Khyndai Lad will soon be known as a red-light area of Meghalaya. “Will the government care to investigate or conduct inquiry into the matter?” he questioned.
Reiterating that anti-trafficking task force units have been constituted to take stock of the matter, Rymbui said that if the MLA has come across such activities, he should have immediately reported it to the police for necessary action.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress legislator and East Shillong MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh, also joined in the debate and requested the police to conduct an inquiry within three or four days.
The Congress MLA told the House that assurance should be given and find out whether or not there is some truth in the matter.
To this, the home minister said that raids have also been conducted by the anti-human trafficking units whenever information was received, while adding that police are alive to the issue and working on it.
