By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 4: The Voice of People’s Party (VPP) on Monday urged the state government to conduct a proper investigation into alleged police excesses that transpired during the public hearing of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) for the expansion of the Meghalaya Cements Ltd at Thangskai, East Jaintia Hills recently. The VPP has expressed this in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma.
VPP general secretary, Ricky AJ Syngkon said that the party expresses its deep anguish over the manner and style of functioning of the MSPCB and Home department in connection with the conduct of the public hearing at Thangskai.
According to Syngkon, the observable collusion of the state agencies with the private company to torment the local population by conducting the said public hearing undemocratically and without adhering to the principle of transparency ought to be condemned in strongest way possible, especially the brutality meted out by the police personnel on the local people.
He said that that the government should immediately suspend all the police officers and constables involved in the barbaric attack against the people, especially women.
“We demand immediate arrest of the officials of the Meghalaya Cements Limited that were involved in instigating the police personnel to use excessive force against the unarmed common people. We would also want an immediate transfer of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police,” Syngkon reiterated.
Meanwhile, the VPP general secretary added that the government should initiate an inquiry into the conduct of the officials of the MSPCB for convening the public hearing in an undemocratic manner and denying the right of participation of the local residents dissenting against the expansion of the Meghalaya Cements Limited.
