A well-known Right to Information (RTI) activist and the headman of Syllei-U-Lar village has filed an FIR at the Umiam Police Station against the officer-in-charge of Khapmara police checkpoint, Amit Sinha, for allegedly snatching away his mobile phone and illegally confiscating it this morning at Jiengkieng Dwar Ksuid, Ri-Bhoi.
Nongbsap told Highland Post that he, along with some members of the Hynniewtrep People’s Federation (HPF), were keeping an eye on trucks that they suspected to have been carrying loads above the 10 tonne limit over the weakened Dwar Ksuid Bridge. Nongbsap was doing so after receiving complaints from people in the area that such trucks were using the bridge.
“Seeing the trucks carrying even 20 tonnes and over, we phoned Amit Sinha about this,” Nongbsap said. “But he said that the trucks had been released at Mawryngkneng and nothing could be done. After that I phoned the DC (Deputy Commissioner). There was no reply so I called the SP (Superintendent of Police) asking him to send at least a few police personnel to check this flagrant violation of government orders.”
Soon after, however, a group of men led by one Bajop Mating, as Nongbsap claimed, accosted them for trying to obstruct “his” trucks. Mating claimed to be President of the local unit of the Khasi Students Union.
“Simultaneously came Amit Sinha who accused me of obstructing things and called me names. Everything was recorded because my phone was on recording from the beginning,” the activist said.
The phone was then seized and the officer refused to return it, leading him to file the FIR.
