Police constantly assessing security of public representatives

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the State police is assessing the security of not only the chief minister but all elected members of the Assembly.

“We have to assess the security of each and every member of this House. That is why we are reviewing each and every now and then to know the safety and security of not only the CM  but all members of this august House,” Tynsong said while replying to a special motion in the Assembly.

He was also referring to the statement made by former chief minister Mukul Sangma that he never heard in the history of Meghalaya that people were trying to attack or kill the chief minister.

During the discussion, Sangma had also slammed the government for booking young boys, arrested in the July 24 violence incident, under an act that deals with terrorists and members of banned organizations.

On this, Tynsong however said, “As far as this issue is concerned, let us wait till the process is completed whether police book them in this Act or that Act and then the truth will come out.”

“I, therefore, request the members of this august House that we don’t want to harm anybody or create any insecurity. We are here to protect and also to make sure we are all safe and secured wherever we are in the state of Meghalaya,” he added.

The deputy chief minister however reiterated that the July-24 Tura violence incident was pre-planned.

He said the people who had created the law and order did not wait for the outcome of the meeting convened by the chief minister and leaders of NGOs. “They started creating law and order outside while the meeting was still going on. Therefore, I said it was pre-planned.”

Conrad terms allegations as ‘ridiculous’

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today termed the allegation of former chief minister Mukul Sangma over a photograph of him and a person, who was arrested as kingpin in a drug haul in Mizoram, as the most ridiculous way of proving anything.

Mukul had accused the chief minister of having a close association with a drug kingpin from Mizoram while producing a photograph of Conrad, his wife and Henry Lalremsanga, who was arrested on April 23, 2013, in connection with the seizure of Rs six crore worth banned pseudoephedrine tablets.

The serious allegation was made in the Assembly during a discussion on a motion related to the drug menace in the State.

“It is sad that a person of his (Mukul) level brought in a photograph and just jumped to a conclusion. Connecting people based on a photograph of two people being clicked together I think in today’s world, it is the most ridiculous way of proving anything. So I have no comment to say about that,” Conrad told reporters.

Stating that he clicked pictures with millions of people being a public figure, he said, “I meet and I sit and I click pictures with millions of people. Even while walking in the street, somebody will stop me, I never say no, because we are public figures.”

“I think connecting two individuals’ activities based on and coming to a conclusion based on a photograph I think is the most illogical conclusion that anybody can jump to,” Conrad said while adding “It has to be based on evidence and on proof of what activities were taking place. I have no clue number one, what these activities were and I know many people and individuals who are there and as public figures, we need to talk to everybody.”

“So does the court case or whatever police case that was filed that have Conrad Sangma’s name in it? I think that is the precise question. Whether we were called for any kind of discussion on it or any kind of case was filed against us, I think that is the basis on which a statement of this level by a person of his stature should be made,” he added.

The chief minister said he would act on the matter as per the rules and procedures that are there in the House.

“As per rule, whatever the ruled in procedure is there in the house, whatever the honourable speaker has mentioned accordingly we will take it but as I said this nothing to react for my side when there is no basis on which these kinds of talks have been made,” he said.