5,196 criminal cases in EKH district in 3yrs

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: East Khasi Hills district has registered over 5,196 cases of crimes during the past three years from 2020 to 2023.

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong while replying to a query raised by UDP Nongpoh legislator from Nongpoh Mayralborn Syiem in the Assembly today.

Syiem has sought assurance from the deputy chief minister on the need to fast-track the investigation and charge sheeting of pending cases.

He said there are over 2,821 cases of crimes have been registered in a span of 3 years out of which only 84 have been prosecuted so far.

In his reply, Tynsong admitted that it looks very discouraging as it takes a lot of time for cases to reach the stage of prosecution.

He however said the state police are going all out to complete the process of charge-sheeting and submit the same to the court for disposal of cases.

“I like to assure the House that the police and the government will not sit idle on this issue. We will pursue this matter and ensure procedure in the court will complete (at the earliest),” he added.

On the status of the forensic laboratory in the State, the deputy chief minister informed that the State government had recently created a separate directorate of forensics under the control of the Home department.

“Few proposals have been submitted for strengthening the functioning of this department and the government has already approved the proposal. We have also already acquired a few important instruments required to ensure pending cases are fast-tracked and tests no longer required to be sent outside the state (for speedy investigation),” he said.

Regarding the shortage of manpower in the police department, Tynsong informed that a meeting was recently held under the chairmanship of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma has decided to fill up the shortages faced by the SP office, police stations, women police stations, police outposts across the state.

“The DGP is working out the total requirement and once that is done, the government will accordingly create and sanction. I am sure a few months from now, we will be able to fill up those requirements right from the SP office level down to the outpost level,” he assured.

CM inspects ongoing projects in WGH

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inspected several ongoing projects with Tura and its adjoining areas in West Garo Hills on Thursday.

He inspected the ongoing construction of the Tura Medical College at Doldegre, about 7 km from Tura town, where Tura Civil Hospital is located.

Reviewing the ongoing construction with officials of health department, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills and officials of the construction company, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the pace of the construction is slow, which has been quickened recently.

“The civil works of the college should be completed by June-July next year. We are hopeful to complete the infrastructure and start the medical college. The process to increase the beds in Tura Civil Hospital will also start soon,” the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister has also directed Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani to hold regular reviews with the construction company and ensure that the college is completed within the coming year.

He also inspected the ongoing construction of Tura Youth Convention Centre, which is coming up at Dakopgre and also the Track and Field Stadium.

Expressing happiness over the ongoing construction of the sports and youth facilities, he said, “We expect that within 1.5 years, the stadium and the convention centre will be inaugurated. These two infrastructures will be a blessing for Tura town and the State as a whole as different kinds of sports, games and events of State and national level can be held in Tura in the near future.”