Meghalaya Govt moving to address fire hazards

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today chaired a meeting to review the fire incidents in the State.

Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “Few decisions were taken where ultimately I have asked the department concerned, the fire service IG in charge to submit all details, what are the challenges that we have whether in terms of maybe instruments or in terms of infrastructure or in terms of manpower, I have instructed him to submit it to the department to the government and we will see one by one to meet all those requirements at the earliest possible,” Tynsong said.

The meeting was held in view of the recent massive fire incident at Khyndailad.

On the fire safety auditing of buildings, the deputy CM said, “That is also part of the meeting. That is why I am telling you I have already told the fire service wings to submit all details which means recommendations, suggestions, views to the government and from there once I receive all these, I will call the meeting again. That is why I have already instructed the IG in charge of fire service to submit all those documents.”

Tynsong said, “I will again call a meeting (on the matter). We will discuss in the higher authority (on the) need to come up with (fire safety) policy and SOPs especially in the urban areas which I personally feel it is urgently needed. Once that is done I am sure we will come up with SOPs and notification accordingly so that we will do it at the earliest possible.”

Mukul questions govt action against students

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma today slammed the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government for allegedly booking the students, who were arrested in the July 24-Tura violence, under the relevant section of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which deals with terrorists and members of the banned organizations.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the reaction of the authorities with regards to the incident was more like a pre-planned modus operandi.

“You are seeing a government, who have the audacity to allow young boys and students, who are pursuing their academic careers to be booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which are for the terrorists and members of the banned organizations,” he said.

“This indicates that the government instead of ensuring justice is becoming the main perpetrator of crime. It is a crime. If somebody is implicated falsely just to hide their own failures, is it not a crime?” Sangma asked.

Condemning the government’s action, the former chief minister said the government is trying to destroy the career of these young boys.

“Everybody’s career is important. Conrad Sangma’s career is also as important so also the career of those young boys, who are pursuing their courses of study. Maybe that boy arrested is the only boy who has reached this far in pursuing their academic career, maybe he is the only lone educated boy coming up and he might have dreams to contribute to the society. So these are something which reflects the mindset of the people in power and I condemn them,” he said while adding “This mindset is highly condemnable. Therefore, these issues need to be discussed in the August house. Will we get a chance? They will say it is subjudice so the media has to ask them are these boys’ terrorists?”

Sangma further reminded the State government that there is a procedure if any organization has to be notified as a terrorist organization.

“You look at the list of the terrorist organizations you will see this list is notified by the MHA and not by the State government. So which terrorist organization was there, which was banned that these boys have to be arrested under this particular Act. What are they trying to do that means the government of the day is hell-bent on becoming a perpetrator to do injustice to innocent people that is how I will put it,” he said.

Further, the AITC leader demanded the State government to rectify such wrongs done to the people of the people of State.

“It should not be repeated and the government must rectify all these wrongs that have been perpetrated upon the people of the state,” he said.