The Jaiñtia Students Union (JSU) today met with Director General of Police (DGP), Iadashisha Nongrang and placed a number of suggestions for her to act.
One of the suggestions made is to strengthen all border police outposts in the state including those in Jaintia Hills along the Meghalaya-Assam border where conflicts have occurred in the past.
Referring to the decision made by the government in 2022 to set up police outposts in seven sensitive locations at Mukroh village and Tihwieh in West Jaintia Hills, Mooriap in East Jaintia Hills, Rani-Jirang in Ri-Bhoi district, and Umwali, Lejadubi, and Langpih in West Khasi Hills, the union wants the new DGP to implement the planned decision.
“We suggest that your office ensures the improvement of infrastructure at these outposts, especially at Mukroh and Khanduli Village. The current conditions are inadequate, with some outposts covered only with tin sheets, putting the lives of the police security guards at risk and even the site where the outpost is located is not a permanent land,” the union said in a memorandum.
Lauding the police for efforts in preventing drugs from entering the state, the JSU said there are gaps that the department needs to plug like strengthening the Anti-Narcotic Task Force in the East Jaintia Hills, a major entry point for drugs in the state, collaboration with social workers, organisations, and village councils to curb drug use and sale. More awareness programs against drugs should be organised in market areas, villages, towns, and institutions, it added.
The JSU also sought her intervention to address the difficulties faced by job aspirants who wants to join the force like conducting the physical and written exams in the Jaintia Hills region. This, they said would cut their travel expense as job aspirants especially those from the rural and underprivileged backgrounds have to travel to Shillong.
The union also proposed for a 24-Hour Confidential Women Helpline (WHL) Service aimed at supporting women and child survivors and victims of all forms of violence, including domestic violence. Additionally, the union also suggested collaboration of the police department and social welfare to hold awareness programs that would focus on women and child development, anti-human trafficking, and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
The JSU also drew the attention of the DGP to the illegal toll gates erected across various routes in the state and extortion carried out by groups or individuals from trucks and carriers transporting local products and goods both edible and non-edible items, including agricultural and non-agricultural products such as broomsticks, boulder stones, dry betel nut, and betel leaves.
These unlawful activities have affected local farmers, inflation in prices of goods and cause a strain on the economy, the union said and urged the DGP to take immediate action to identify and dismantle illegal toll gates and to conduct thorough investigations to bring those responsible for these unlawful activities to book.
The union said by implementing these measures the police department would ensure safe and fair transportation of local goods without unauthorised financial burdens.
