Extortion leading to price rise: Ardent

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 22: Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit today sought action against extortion of different forms which has led to the price rise of essential commodities in the state.

While raising a supplementary query in the Assembly, Basaiawmoit said the price rise is a very serious issue and to a great extent affects the common man.

“Almost every week, there is an increase in the price (of essential commodities) and the main reason of the price rise is because of many extortions that are taking place in the state. So these businessmen in order to recover have to (increase the) price (of their commodities),” he said.

In his reply, the Minister-in-charge of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Comingone Ymbon said the issue of price rise is not only in the State and that it is being experienced all over India.

He said that insufficient food production, increased fuel prices, climate change, insufficient rain and other factors have contributed to the price rise and inflation.

He informed that the state has a district vigilant committee to check price rises and that is why the department is capturing in all three markets – Iewduh, Laitumkhrah and Rynjah – by using a mobile app with GPS on essential committees.

On the concern raised by UDP Sohiong MLA S Lyngdoh with regards to alleged plastic rice, Ymbon however said the people in the state do not know about fortified rice and they said it is plastic rice.

“However, if people are getting plastic rice kindly ask them to complain to our department,” he added.

Earlier, the minister has informed that steps have been taken by the government to keep in check the seriousness of food inflation.

The department has instructed the districts/sub-divisions from time to time to carry out raids and inspections regularly to prevent hoarding and black marketing and to increase the prosecution and conviction rate and to provide the outcome of such raids.

“Also, action is taken on reports relating to offences under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 & the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980,” he said.

“Instructions have been sent to all deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers to constitute the district and sub-division vigilance monitoring committee to curb tendencies of hoarding and black marketing to ensure that there is no hoarding and black marketing of commodities,” Ymbon said while adding that monitoring of prices of essential commodities through price monitoring centres is done and action is taken thereupon.

AIM against gambling in melas

The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.

Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.

Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.

NHRC seeks info on de-addiction centres

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to chief secretaries of all the States and Union Territories (UTs) and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment seeking a report on the de-addiction centres.

The NHRC wanted to know how many de-addiction centres are presently available with the Government Sector, can private entities be allowed to set up de-addiction centres, are there any rules or regulations framed under the NDPS Act to regulate the de-addiction centres as mandated in Section 71 of NDPS Act.

It also asked as to what is the mechanism for providing training to the persons employed in such de-addiction centres; and to specify the mechanisms to regulate private de-addiction centres including charges/fees, employment of staff, counsellor, medical staff, food supplied and overall upkeep of such rehabilitation centres.

This came after the NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report of yet another death of an inmate at a private drug de-addiction centre, which is the third such incident in the recent past.

Reportedly, a 24-year-old man was beaten to death by the people running a De-addiction Centre in Chandramani area of Dehradoon, Uttarakhand on 10th April, 2023.

Prior to this, the Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of two similar incidents at De-addiction Centres in NOIDA and Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and the reports have been sought.

The Commission has observed that all three rehabilitation centres, two in UP and one in Uttarakhand were being run by private entities. It needs serious consideration as to whether the De-addiction Centres can be allowed to be operated by private entities, and if it is so, whether State(s) have ensured sufficient safety measures in place to protect the interest of the inmates with a view to achieving the desired goal.

Notices have also been issued to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand calling for a detailed report in the instant case of the death of an inmate at Dehradoon Rehab Centre.

The reports should include the present status of the investigation of the case and compensation and relief, if any, provided to the Next of kin of the deceased.

According to the media report, carried on 13th April, 2023, the patients of the Dehradoon De-addiction Centre, have said that their beatings were frequent and routine, as were hunger and lack of hygiene. No doctor or counsellor ever visited the centre.

Govt to address shortage of manpower in police dept

The state government has decided to complete the recruitment process to address the shortage of manpower in the police department within this year.

Informing this after chairing a meeting at the police headquarters, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said there is not less than 3500 to 4000 shortage of manpower in the police department.

“Today, we have taken a decision right now I think we are all aware we do have the drive for appointment of different categories of police in the state of Meghalaya about 1000 plus and the personal interview is still on and it will be over in another 2-3 weeks then they will be appointed and again the next session of recruitment drive will immediately take place and we also wanted to complete the whole process of recruitment drive within this year itself,” Tynsong said.

“Once the filling up of vacancies is done I am very sure we will be able at least to overcome one of the biggest challenges that we have not only at the SP level but upto the outpost level, we have so much shortage of manpower,” he added.

According to him, the government will try its best to ensure better policing and boost the morale of the police besides maintaining the law and order in the state of Meghalaya.

Asserting the need to increase the manpower of the police department, Tynsong sad, “The police department is the biggest organization as far as government department is concerned, we have not less than 16,000 forces and now we need to increase that also and we discuss about how to create new sanctions.”

“In other states, I am telling you they have 35,000 – 40,000 manpower. Like in Manipur, they have a manpower of 26,000 whereas here we have only 16,000. Therefore, we wanted to increase the total strength of police personnel in Meghalaya,” he added.

On the infrastructure aspect, the deputy chief minister said that the Director General of Police (DGP) has been asked to send all the requirements pertaining to the issue where quite a number of police stations and SP offices do not have their own buildings.

“Of course we cannot do it in one go but in phase wise and I will try my best to get maximum sanction (for construction of) SP offices, quarters of the SP and police officers and then come down to the police stations, where some are still functioning from rented houses. We wanted to make sure we have our own buildings and offices,” he said.

Tynsong also said that the government would also construct good barracks at the police outposts including the 7 newly created outposts along the Meghalaya-Assam border.

“As far as those newly created outposts immediately we are going to construct the barrack for the functioning of these outposts in all the 7 outposts and we will also increase the manpower there,” he added.

He further informed, “I had requested DGP to prioritize it one by one as we can’t give sanction in one go but in priority basis. We will do it according to the recommendation to be made by the DGP.”

Meanwhile, Tynsong said that the meeting also discussed the functioning of the forensic laboratory in the state.

“Of course few more instruments that we need to requisition immediately and of course we do have little shortage of manpower that has also been discussed. We wanted to attend to this. See like DNA test we need to promptly get the report as you know it well when you talk about the conviction rate it is very low in absence of this test. I have requested the DG to again bring all the details to the department and we will accordingly positively respond to the requirement which is to be submitted by the office of the DGP,” he added.

Govt to advertise police recruitment soon

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the government will soon advertise another 1500 posts for recruitment in the police department.

“We are going to again advertise for another 1500 manpower which is required in the police department alone,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said the process of recruitment will start very soon and the government will ensure that such vacancies are filled up within this year itself.

Earlier, Tynsong informed that the personal interview for over 1000 plus vacant posts will be held within the next 3-4 days.