Who says coal export is banned
This truck bearing the registration number from Jaintia Hills was stopped by Assam Police at Beltola, Assam. Along with this truck were many others loaded with coal, which were parked by the side of the Shillong-Guwahati highway.
The trucks have now developed a new trick. They cover up the carrier completely with plastic sheets to prevent anyone from seeing what they are carrying. Meghalaya Police perhaps find it too cumbersome to check each and every truck that is nicely covered up.
It is learnt that in Ri Bhoi district there is shortage of police manpower since over two hundred policemen have been deputed to Garo Hills to fight militancy.
No wonder not too many policemen are sighted along the Shillong-Guwahati highway these days.
A police official said that the coal trucks use a clever modus operandi.
They send a Tata Sumo to do a reconnaissance and when the roads are empty the Sumo calls up the truck drivers to quickly pass the unguarded highway.
The police official said it is difficult to tackle this added responsibility to the list of police duties. He has a valid point!
Being free a necessity
Music, food and public gatherings have been a trend of sorts of late in the otherwise “close door Independence Day celebrations” culture in the city. Thanks to the district administration’s efforts, the idea of unnecessary bandhs on days of national importance is slowly but surely fading.With delicacies at discount rates up for grabs and the lure to take a walk out of the four walls’ boredom to peep in to a musical event looming large, the Shillongite is all but tempted to venture into the forbidden city-roads.
Only this time, he is pleasantly surprised to spot not only private vehicles but the black and yellow ones too, though in comparatively minute numbers, making their rounds pretending that it were a sleepy Sunday with few people around to hire the services.
A lonely shop here and there, ‘brave’ enough to open a quarter of the shutter, also added to the passer-by’s delight.
All these are signs of a change, a transition coming about more for necessity’s than so called freedom’s sake. However, having said that, freedom too is a necessity.
Perhaps the trend to revolt against the illogical has begun to soak the Pine City.
