By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The State Police have further intensified operations in certain areas of Garo Hills to crack down the suspected GNLA militants, who gunned down five migrant coal labourers in South Garo Hills district recently.

Asserting that the massacre was the handiwork of the suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a senior police official on Friday said operations are in full swing to track down the GNLA militants who are terrorising people in Garo Hills.

On March 5 night, a group of around seven to 10 armed suspected GNLA cadres fired indiscriminately at the Goka coal dumping area killing five labourers and injuring one seriously.

Earlier, GNLA blamed the ANVC for the killing while the under-ceasefire militant outfit (ANVC) maintained that it was a move by the GNLA to derail its ongoing peace process with the Government while sources also did not rule out the involvement of a third party in the massacre.

“It is an ongoing battle and we hope to have an encounter soon with the militants,” police sources said while admitting that the massacre took place despite continuous anti-insurgency operations by huge number of security personnel in Garo Hills.

In November last year, suspected GNLA militants had shot dead two coal labourers in separate incidents before hurling grenades at a petrol pump in coal-rich Nangalbibra area of the district.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: As a mark of solidarity with veteran social activist and Gandhian leader Anna Hazare on his “fast unto death” for the Jan Lok Pal at New Delhi with the aim to combat corruption, a signature campaign and a public rally was held in the city on Friday.

Hundred of citizens including students, teachers, lecturers and lawyers came forward to participate in the signature campaign organised by the Art of Living Organisation at Khyndai Lad on Friday.

A lecturer of St Peter’s College Chandana Dkhar felt that this signature campaign is a right step to show the State’s support for Hazare who is putting his life at stake in the struggle to have a stronger anti-corruption law.

“Personally, I feel that everyone should take part in this fight against corruption which is hurting the whole system in the country. This is the fight for the better of our future generation,” Dkhar said while adding that it is now or never.

The lecturer lamented that many talented young people are not getting a job because of corruption. She said what is worse is the public apathy to corruption.

Art of Living member M Chaudhuri pointed out that corruption is prevailing not only at the political level but even in the bureaucratic level.

“Corruption has become a part and parcel of our system,” Ms Chaudhuri said.

Another lecturer Mitalie Paul felt that the anti-corruption crusade of Hazare has come at a very crucial time to prevent the country from further sliding down.

Law Professional SD Gupta feels that the common people are worst affected by the menace of corruption. She said corruption has to be eliminated from the system.

Meanwhile, a short meeting was also held here at NEHU campus wherein students and teachers from different departments of the university participated with great enthusiasm.

Speaking on the sidelines of this rally, Head of the Department of Political Science NEHU, AK Barauh, said as citizens of a free country, one has every right to demand for a strong Lok Pal Bill which is necessary to stop the rampant corruption in the country.

“Anna Hazare reflects liberal sensibilities for all Indian communities and his effort will not be in vain,” said the professor adding that this Bill is required to control the bureaucrats, politicians and others. Meanwhile, talking to reporters here on Friday, a student participating in the rally appreciated the efforts of Anna Hazare saying students also suffer this malpractice of corruption in various institutions and if corruption is wiped out once and for all then it will definitely lead to the development of the country and ensure a better community.

Another student who took the stand said Anna Hazare’s protest has given a momentum to the fight against corruption. “It is time that the citizens of Shillong extended their support to this cause,” added the student.

The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya and KSU have resolved to join hands and participate in the public meeting called by the Mait Shaphrang Movement to express support to Anna Hazare.

GCCM secretary John F Kharshiing said Hazare has been demanding passing of the Lok Pal Bill which is in cold storage for the past 42 years.

“The proposed bill is to ensure that corrupt persons are caught, punished, and persecuted in a timely manner, whereas presently no politician, officer, or judge can be persecuted without permission,” he said.

KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling called upon the people to take part in the public meeting.

The MSM earlier decided to hold a public meeting to express its solidarity to the anti-corruption movement here on Saturday.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The indefinite road blockade called by two truck operators’ associations along NH-62 in protest against alleged extortion had a partial impact as the district administration maintained steps are being taken to stop illegal activities along the controversial highway.

The All Garo Hills Coal Truck Operators’ Association and the Dobu Nongalbibra Coal Truck Operators’ Association had called for the indefinite road blockade from Friday demanding transfer of an enforcement inspector and his staff who allegedly extort money from the truckers on the route.

While assuring the truckers of taking steps against illegal activities along NH-62, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi on Friday said, “I have asked the SP to be stringent in dealing with any one obstructing the flow of vehicles.”

Reacting to a query on the alleged involvement of MVIs in extortion from truckers, the DC said, “We have informed the Transport Department to look into the matter and take action accordingly.”

The agitating truckers earlier accused WD Sangma, the Additional District Magistrate, of indulging in extortion activities and demanded that he should not be engaged in the supervision of NH-62 and that all illegal toll gates along the 80-km-long stretch from the coal-rich Nongalbibra to Dainadubi be dismantled.

From Our Correspondent

 JOWAI: The indefinite strike called by the Jaintia Hills Truck Owners’ Association (JHTOA) in protest against the decision of the Joint Action Committee Coal Miners’ Welfare Association (JACCMWA) to reduce the transportation charge of coal from Jaintia Hills to Beltola in Assam was called off on Friday afternoon.

In a meeting with the JACCMWA at Hynniawmer weighbridge, the JHTOA decided to stick abide by the new rate proposed by the JACCMWA.

Earlier, when the indefinite strike started from 5 am on Friday, JACCMWA members were seen escorting coal-laden trucks while JHTOA members tried to stop them at Hynniawmer.

Hundreds of JACCMWA members rushed to Hynniawmer leading to a tense situation, which calmed later and both the associations held a meeting in presence of policemen and a magistrate and decided to form a joint committee.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The Shad Suk Mynsiem (Dance of Happy Hearts) at Lympung Weiking, Jaiaw will soon be celebrating its centenary but this was achieved not without a struggle, Seng Khasi leader Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih told reporters on Friday.

This dance festival of the Khasis has been being held at Lympung Weiking since 1911. The centenary celebration of the Shad Suk Mynsiem at the above venue will be held on April 16 to 18.

Shad Suk Mynsiem is a thanksgiving dance of the Khasis to God Almighty blessing the year that had gone by and to seek blessings for the coming year.

According to oral tradition, the Shad Suk Mynsiem was actually performed right from the pre-historic era, said.

He, however, informed that the challenges to hold this dance festival started to crop up after the coming of the British and Welsh Missionaries.

According to Nongkynrih, the British administration began to prevent the holding of such festivals terming them as “pagan”. It was during this period that the Seng Khasi faced great challenges to observe this annual religio-cultural festival, the Seng Khasi leader said.

Seng Khasi general secretary BS Rumnong said it was the courage and fearlessness of the early Khasis to defy the orders of the British which ensured that this event continues to be observed to this day.

Nongkynrih informed that the original venue of the Shad Suk Mynsiem is on the land where the present Apollo Bakery is located at Mawkhar. Later the venue was shifted to Lympung Weiking.

He further recalled that during the 1920’s, they were prevented from holding the dance festival at the Mawkhar venue since the Syiem of Mylliem had given a land patta to a private individual for the land. This forced the Seng Khasi to shift the venue to Lympung Weiking.

Nongkynrih highlighted that earlier the traditional archery took place at Lympung Weiking but later stage, the authorities disallowed this sport at the venue and permission was granted only for holding the Shad Suk Mynsiem and the Seng Kut Snem.

Admitting that the movement for reviving the Seng Khasi religion has gained momentum a few years ago, he said it is not an organised religion and believes in the principle that the God the maker and creator (Blei nongbuh nongthaw) is one, irrespective of any religion a person may belong to. Nongkynrih also pointed out that the Seng Khasi unlike other organised religions does not place any restrictions on its followers.

Every member of the Seng Khasi lives according to a set of universal human values given by the ancestors. The Seng Khasis also do not have a place for worship like the church or temple but believes that God lives amidst nature hence the identification of sacred spaces like the Lum Shyllong and Lum Sohpetbneng where the traditional rituals are conducted, Nongkynrih informed.

But the aggressive nature of organised religion has in recent times compelled the members of Seng Khasi to also look for a common meeting place.

Rumnong asserted that it is the Seng Khasi which has nurtured and conserved the traditional cultural practices of the Khasi after the Khasi Christians had literally abandoned these practices.

As part of this celebration, a procession of all the dancers would start from Madan Iewrynghep to Lympung Weiking on Saturday.

On Saturday evening, Union Minister of State of Water Resources Vincent H Pala will release the souvenir of the centenary and also inaugurate the Seng Khasi official website at the Seng Khasi Hall in Mawkhar.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The All Primary School Teachers’ Association (APSTA) has decided to take out a procession on April 19 demanding fulfillment of their various long-pending demands including release of pending salaries. Primary school teachers working under Non-Plan system have not been paid their salaries since December last year. Their other demands include retirement benefits, allowance for the head teacher etc.

Tura: Taking a serious view of the arrest of a block development officer (BDO) red-handed while taking bribe, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday said the government wil have a fresh look at the appointment of BDOs. “We have 39 blocks, and only two Meghalaya Civil Service officers occupy the post of BDOs. The rest are either veterinary doctors, agriculturists or others. There is a need to have a fresh look at the appointment of BDOs,” he told reporters, after launching two daily newspapers Tura Times (English) and Salantini Kurang (Garo) here. Langstar Kharkongor, the BDO of Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills district, was trapped by sleuths of the crime branch on Tuesday while taking a bribe of Rs 50,000 for releasing a cheque for payment for work under the MGNREGS.

Commending the people who helped the police in catching the BDO, the Chief Minister said, “People should have a strong resolve to root out corruption. The arrest of the BDO has send a strong signal to other corrupt officers.”

Asserting that the government will provide all necessary support to people who come forward against such corrupt officials, Sangma called for a proper social audit for the flagship schemes in which the village authorities are involved.

“People should be sensitized about the inherent guidelines of the schemes so that they can participate in the public hearings and get involved in the social audit system,” he added. (PTI)