State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang today expressed concern over the recent and frequent attacks made towards police vehicles and government properties.
Kharkrang, a retired senior police officer, said that as a party and also a citizen of the state, the BJP is concerned and it indicates a negative picture outside the state which brings a sense of insecurity in the people.
Shillong city has been witnessing a series of petrol bomb attacks of late. To mention a few – on May 2, miscreants lobbed petrol bombs at the heavily guarded Shillong Sadar police station and Rynjah police station during the early morning hours. Other attacks were against a government office in Kench’s Trace, a NEEPCO official’s car in Nongthymmai and the home of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar in Nongmensong.
“By looking at some of the recent incidents, they are so blatant and it feels as if we can do anything anytime anywhere we intend to,” Kharkrang said. “But one doesn’t understand the impact it has on the economy of the state. At present it’s tourist season – now with such kinds of incidents, which tourists would want to visit Meghalaya? And if a police convoy is targeted then what kind of message are we sending to people from outside the state?”
Asked if the police need a new mechanism to tackle the law and order disturbances, Kharkrang stated that the police department is run by efficient people and they have all the resources at their disposal and the requisite manpower.
But the public expect the police to act against such criminal acts and he wants to see the guilty brought to book.
