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.”

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.