Guv: law and order priority area

SHILLONG, MARCH 14: Meghalaya governor R. S. Mooshahary has mentioned three major issues confronting the state, including militancy, crime against women and infiltration, that, he said, would receive the special attention  of the new Congress-led  government during its fresh term.

Addressing the budget session of the newly-constituted Assembly on Thursday, the governor said these were matters of serious concern and the government was committed to dealing with them in an effective manner. “The activities of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in the Garo hills region are a matter of serious concern. The government will resolutely take all necessary steps to counter their activities effectively,” he said.

Mooshahary lauded the state police for their credible performance in carrying out anti-insurgency drive, while pointing to the fact that 106 militants had been arrested during the 12 months ending October, 2012, besides nine others had surrendered with a large number of arms and ammunition. The police, he said, had also arrested GNLA chief Champion Sangma last July and put under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA) for a period of not less than three years.

On the rising crime against women in an avowedly matrilineal state like Meghalaya, the Governor said it was a matter of concern and the government was committed to evolving new strategies and methods of intervention to deal with them. In this context, he pointed out that a special court set up at Nongstoin in the West Khasi Hills district to try rape cases had yielded results and six persons have been convicted so far by the court.

Similarly, rape cases in the five districts of Garo Hills, including last year’s the Williamnagar gang rape case, he said, have been transferred to a fast track court in Tura, and the government was also contemplating entrusting rape cases to the fast track courts in Shillong and Jowai to ensure effective delivery of justice.

The Congress party, which won 29 out of the Assembly 60 seats, had of course promised to set up fast track courts across the state prior to the elections. According to government data, there were 236 recorded cases of crimes against women last year, out of which 158 were related to rape, which is a ten-fold increase over the last ten years. In 2002, there were only 38 reported cases of rape.

On the influx issue, Mooshahary said the state government has set up an anti-infiltration directorate under the direct supervision of an Additional DGP, besides sanctioning 114 posts to provide a more focused and coordinated approach in anti-infiltration efforts.

Meghalaya is prone to illegal immigration of cheap labour from neighbouring Bangladesh. Mooshahary said of the 5012 illegal migrants who were detected, 4919 were sent back directly and 193 were prosecuted here.

Meanwhile, home minister Roshan Warjri said crime against women would be on the top of her list priority list. “It will be our effort to establish fast track courts in all the district headquarters for fast and effective delivery of justice to victims of such crimes,” she said. (By Our Reporter)