By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: N Thohrem, the Investigation Officer (IO) inquiring into the alleged irregularities on the appointment of assistant teachers in Government aided Lower Primary Schools, while presenting the status of the case before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, has revealed that all documents related to the recruitment were under the custody of the CBI.

According to the IO, the Director of Elementary and Mass Education was requested to provide the required documents on January 22, but on the same day dispatched a letter expressing his inability to provide the same, while stating that all the required documents were under the custody of the CBI and the High Court.

The IO also said that a request letter was sent to ND Chullai, Senior Government Advocate of the Gauhati High Court, Shillong Bench seeking his legal advice for procurement of the requirement documents for speedy investigation. The reply is being awaited, he informed.

Thohrem also stated that the statement of the Director of Elementary and Mass Education, complainant and three selection board members of Shillong Centre had already been recorded by the previous IO LD Sangma.

The police have also prayed before the court for an extension of the time to complete the investigation.

Meanwhile, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing, who is spearheading the case, has expressed here resentment at the way the police investigation is progressing.

“If everything is with the High Court and the CBI, what is the Screening Committee screening,” she questioned.

Kharshiing was of the opinion that the case should be taken up by the CBI since the State Police are trying to defend those politicians who had blatantly abused their power and tampered with the marks.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The KSU Mawkyrwat circle on Wednesday dared the sitting legislator of Mawkyrwat constituency and Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh to file an FIR against the members of the implementation committee of the Mawkyrwat Sub Division Sport Association (MSDSA) for their alleged involvement in siphoning off funds sanctioned for the construction of fences around the MSDSA stadium at Mawkyrwat.

The KSU challenge came a day after the Mawkyrwat legislator clarified that there was no collusion between him and the members of the implementation committee of the MSDSA in the disappearance of the Rs 3 lakh sanctioned for the said project.

The KSU stated that if the MLA failed to file FIR against the MSDSA members involved in the scam, they would be forced to believe that Lyngdoh’s clarification was meant to avoid controversies and was a ‘cover up’.

Meanwhile, the KSU came up with fresh allegations against the MSDSA implementation committee for misappropriating funds from the MLA scheme sanctioned in 2009-2010 for purchasing footballs and uniforms for the various football clubs of that area.

Based on documents obtained through an RTI application filed in October 2012, the KSU alleged that money amounting to Rs 1 lakh for purchasing footballs to be distributed to 50 clubs affiliated to the MSDSA and uniforms for 16 leading clubs of the area had been mis-utilized by the MSDSA members.

The KSU revealed that the BDO of Mawkyrwat Block had granted the financial assistance order of Rs 90000 to the MSDSA secretary on January 12, 2011, but the sports items never reached the clubs.

The KSU also asked MSDSA president Diverland Lyngdoh and secretary Prosperly Wanniang to deliver the items if already purchased or to come up with a confession and return the money.

From Our Correspondent

 TURA: Acting in response to strong public complaints regarding the sorry state of a public lavatory run by the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) in Tura, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner (DC) has issued an order for rectification of dumping of untreated solid and liquid wastes endangering public health and safety by constructing a proper septic tank.

The DC said that in case the MTC failed to comply with the order within seven days of receipt of the order, the entire premises will be sealed and necessary action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code will be initiated against the erring officials.

Under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, the DC has prohibited disposal of waste, excreta and urine in streams or water bodies nearby and discharge of waste in any place other than a proper septic tank.

According to the complaints, the public lavatory run by the MTC on user pay basis in Tura Market area has no proper septic tank facility and is generating uncontrollable stench which has started having health repercussions on the people of the neighborhood and commuters.

Due to the untreated human excreta, solid and liquid waste is flowing down in an unhygienic manner hampering public health in general and the surrounding shops, houses and establishments in particular.

The DC stated that lack of treatment of the waste water is an indicator of glaring lapse of the MTC who own and operate the public urinal/toilet which is posing a severe health hazard for the people.

From Our Correspondent

 TURA: A school teacher is among nine candidates contesting from Phulbari constituency of West Garo Hills District.

School teacher Sylvester Bulu Sangma became the first candidate to file his nomination papers for the 46-Phulbari constituency on Wednesday.

He left his teaching job at Christo Jyoti School in Tikrikilla to contest the polls promising ‘positive’ change for the voters.

“I decided to contest after seeing the lack of development plaguing Phulbari for several years. There is no proper roads because of which the agriculture produces cannot be exported causing prices to fall,” said Sylvester while speaking to The Shillong Times shortly after filing his nomination in Tura.

Giving details on the plight of the farmers, he said that absence of a proper bridge over the Ringe river connecting several villages of Phulbari has seriously hampered development beginning from Rongdupara all the way to Dugalgre which boasts of the best horticulture produce in the area.

The Independent candidate will be contesting against eight other contestants including sitting MLA and Congress candidate Abu Taher Mondol, former minister Manirul Islam Sarkar of the Samajwadi Party, Sader Hussain of Purno Sangma’s NPP, Susanna D Sangma of the UDP and four other Independents.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC), while welcoming the report of the Justice Verma Committee on amending criminal laws to provide for greater punishment for sexual violence, has asked the political parties in the State to make implementation of its recommendations as an unequivocal national priority.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, MPHRC secretary general Dino DG Dympep termed the report as a tribute not only to the young woman who was raped and murdered in Delhi five weeks back, but to all victims of sexual violence and assault in the country.

According to the MPHRC, the Committee’s recommendations are grounded in a framework of rights, equality and non-discrimination, and represent a paradigm shift towards recognition of women as holders of rights and not just objects of protection.

Dympep also stated that the Justice Verma Committee report recommends a number of far-reaching changes, including punishment for marital rape, domestic rape and rape in same-sex relationships; mandatory provision for police officers to register every case of reported rape and punish those who fail to do so; hold police and armed forces personnel involved in sexual violence accountable; punish offences such as stalking and voyeurism with prison terms; change the humiliating protocol for medical examinations experienced by rape victims; crack down on extra-legal village councils, which often issue edicts against women; suggests comprehensive measures to improve sexuality education in schools and the community; and suggest new legal requirements and electoral reforms to ensure that people charged with criminal offences do not hold political office.