The Village Defence Primary Nongstoiñ Area (VDPNA) today met Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrang with a plea to reduce the number of summons its members receive to testify in court.
The president of the committee, Markordor Kharsyiemlieh, said that under its umbrella there are 37 villages in the Nongstoiñ area where their Village Defence Party (VDP) is voluntarily working to curb illegal activities, especially drug use.
“When we catch hold of someone who is involved in POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) cases or drugs or murder we are witnesses and each of us have to be witnesses in three-four cases in the courts. In each case we have to visit the courts several times and sometimes we don’t have time to even go to work,” Kharsyiemlieh said.
According to him, the DGP assured that the police will help witnesses so that they do not have to appear in court too many times in any one case.
According to Syiemlieh, the DGP has agreed to increase the honorarium to these VDPs from Rs 300 to Rs 3,000 per month apart from providing them with tools for protection of the volunteers and vests to wear while on duty.
Drug abuse, often thought of as an urban issue, is a major problem even in rural West Khasi Hills. Apprehended drug addicts have often been able to turn their lives around but the scale of the problem is such that the numbers keep growing with new users falling prey to illicit narcotics.
Kharsyiemlieh also flagged the issue of theft in his area. “We now go on night patrolling for the last two months jointly with the police to protect the public from theft and burglary,” he said, adding that VDP members are often threatened by criminals but that only makes them more determined to combat crime in West Khasi Hills.
