Relocation of CRPF camp underway

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: The process of relocation of the CRPF camp from Mawlai has been initiated.

This was informed by the deputy chief minister in-charge home (police) Prestone Tynsong in a reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly on Thursday.

He said the government has allocated 10 acres of land for the establishment of a battalion camping site of CRPF at Umsawli, New Shillong Township and the process of handing/taking over of the land and lease agreement is under process.

I have done my job alerting CM: Mukul

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma today said he has done his job by alerting the chief minister Conrad K Sangma with regards to the drug kingpin from Mizoram. According to him, it is now up to the chief minister to take cognizance of the matter.

This came after Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma had expunged Mukul’s statement alleging Conrad of having a close association with a drug kingpin from Mizoram. Mukul had on Tuesday presented 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 of banned pseudoephedrine tablets.

Speaking to reporters, Mukul claimed that in fact, he had been quite helpful in alerting the chief minister by giving him this kind of information (about Henry), lest he might have not seen that news (published in 2013).

“Why should it be considered offensive? I’m sure everybody who knows the gentleman also will agree with me that I have come to know yesterday after I shared this vital Information in the August House that the person concerned whose picture I have shared is somebody who frequents the state,” he said while adding “Therefore, my job is done now. It is his (Conrad) job to utilize his wisdom and judgment.”

The former chief minister however expressed surprise to see how the government was navigating the whole narrative and defensive they have suddenly become accusing him instead of pointing a finger at the chief minister.

“I never said he (Conrad) he has a nexus but I have definitely say that the person concerned who have the privilege of sharing in that sitting arrangement in one of the very important program at the national capital is reflective of his mutual association with the person concerned,” he said adding “I am also told that yes this association is part and parcel, so therefore I am again in the House today I have said, yes my job is to caution you, I think now it’s the people who should tell him in addition to what I have said.”

He further added, “In yesterday’s proceedings, I have cautioned and I have advised the CM to see that he disassociate (with Henry) so that is my advice and I have also said, I’m sure you won’t get offended because I am suggesting that the chief minister should be disassociate his association since in view of what was carried by the national media. I feel that he should.”

On CM asking him to do research on the status of the case against Henry, Mukul however said, “That is my prerogative and it is also his (CM) responsibility to find out. He should rather go after the man and find out what exactly has happened to the case and is he still in any way directly or indirectly associating with other friends because it is not only one person along with that person there’s other persons from Delhi, whether they are still in those kinds of activity or not. It is up to the CM, he has all the ways and means to find out, he can just write to the government of India to the concerned authorities and find out.”

“I have said to put a scanner in view of what is happening. How do you interpret it? This interpretation is simple: any layman will understand what Dr. Mukul Sangma has suggested,” he stated.

Mercury rises to nearly 40 degrees C in NE

People in several states across the northeastern region have been experiencing a change in weather with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees Celsius in many places, Met officials said on Friday.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Guwahati and Agartala said that maximum temperatures in many places have been varying between 36 to 40 degrees Celsius, which is 5-6 notches above average for this time of the season.

The weather officials also noted that the minimum temperature in many places hovered between 20 to 23 degrees Celsius — 2-3 notches above the season’s average.

The Met officials said that the maximum temperatures are likely to remain the same for the next 4-5 days.

An IMD bulletin said that light rain is likely to occur in some places in Arunachal Pradesh while the weather is likely to remain dry in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

As there has been no rainfall for the past few weeks, a water crisis gripped many parts of the northeast, especially in hilly and remote areas.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the IMD have issued various advisories for farmers and various agri farms to deal with their seasonal crops.

Health authorities also issued advisories asking people to stay guarded against rising temperatures.

(IANS)

NE Cancer Hospital patients get a massive scare

Residents of Mawsmai (11 Mile area), Jorabat and patients of the North East Cancer Hospital escaped injuries after a transformer located in front of the entrance to the hospital burst into flame today.

Fortunately, quick thinking and action by the residents who quickly doused the flames prevented any injuries.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained by the filing of this report. The incident occurred at around 12:30 AM just outside the campus of the North East Cancer Hospital within the Jorabat Police Outpost.

Those who witnessed the sudden blaze immediately informed the fire station in Guwahati whose personnel rushed to the spot to take control of the situation and after a few hours of continuous efforts by the firefighters, the blaze was doused.

Meghalaya among 9 states to withdraw general consent to CBI

As many as nine states, including Telangana and Meghalaya, have withdrawn the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for probing certain offences.

The information was disclosed by Union Minister Jitendra Singh during the winter session of the Parliament in December 2022.

The minister informed the House that as per Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI requires the consent of the respective state governments to conduct investigations in their jurisdiction.

The state governments had granted general consent to the CBI for the investigation of a specified class of offences against specified categories of persons, enabling the agency to register and investigate those specified matters, Singh elaborated. However, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, and West Bengal have withdrawn the general consent to the CBI to investigate cases. This move could potentially create roadblocks for the CBI to investigate cases in these states.

Non-BJP-ruled states have accused the CBI of “selectively targeting” Opposition leaders.

The withdrawal of consent could also affect the CBI’s ability to investigate cases that have national significance or interstate ramifications. It remains to be seen how the CBI will navigate these challenges and continue to discharge its duties effectively.

This development highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the DSPE Act, 1946, and its provisions related to the CBI’s jurisdiction and powers.

In March this year, a Parliamentary Committee emphasised the withdrawal of general consent for the CBI probe by several states and stated that the existing law governing the federal probe agency has “several limitations”.

The committee has suggested the need to enact new legislation that defines the CBI’s status, functions, and powers.

“The Committee feels that the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act has many limitations and therefore, recommends that there is a need to enact a new law and define the status, functions and powers of the CBI and also lay down safeguards to ensure objectivity and impartiality in its functioning,” it said.

Rudra Vikram Singh, Supreme Court lawyer said that withdrawal of general consent means CBI does not have the general consent of a state government, it is required to apply for consent on a case-by-case basis and cannot act before the consent is given.

“However CBI can continue to investigate cases in a state registered prior to the withdrawal of general consent. In July 2022, the Calcutta High Court, in a case of illegal coal mining and cattle smuggling being investigated by the CBI, ruled that the central agency cannot be stopped from investigating a Central government employee in another state,” said Singh.

“In its order, the High Court observed that corruption cases across the country must be treated equally and that Central government employees could not be exempted from an investigation on the grounds that their offices were located in states that have withdrawn general consent. The judgment also said that withdrawal of general consent and its ramifications would be applicable in cases where exclusively state government employees were involved,” he added.

This order, however, has been challenged in the Supreme Court, where the matter is still pending. Hence, as it stands, the CBI can use the Calcutta High Court order to its advantage to carry on certain investigations until the order is struck down by the Supreme Court.

Gurmeet Nehra, legal scholar and member of the Supreme Court Bar Association said that CBI can approach the local court of that state for issuing a search warrant and it can register a case in Delhi and proceed with the investigation.