The death of a milkman recently in Nongpoh due to speeding VIP escorts is a cause of concern about road safety, especially the common men. Ironically, this is not the first time in Meghalaya because three months earlier, a youth, Huddersfield Rymbui lost his precious life when the police escort vehicle, accompanying Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh hit the bike he was riding in November.
The babus who enjoy and play high profile by breaking traffic rules and behave as if they were appointed by the Lord Almighty is not a surprise for the citizens. The death of a youth, who many said contributed immensely to the society, sparked public outrage and people had called for accountability, highlighting concerns about VIP culture and its impact on road safety. Yet not a word for a milkman on a bicycle! Was it because he spoke a different language, followed different customs or does not belong from the majority community?
The milkman, a 69-year old Jonga Bahadur was killed after being hit by an escort vehicle of the Director General of Assam Rifles at Nongpoh that was on his way to the airport. The spokesperson of the paramilitary force assured cooperation to the state police in the accident but not more than that from the “friends of the hill people.”
There were scores who condemned the first incident that even a call for abolishing VIP culture was made. It wasn’t loud enough this time when another life was gone. The pitch and the vibration are inaudible.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had earlier announced formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) after facing severe criticism after the November incident and a “large number of complaints” on “VIP culture” he had received. The police department was asked to prepare the SOP and the government is pinning hope that it should be able to minimise the inconvenience caused to the public.
Every department and arm of the government is propounding “Viksit Bharat”, a pursuit that the Prime Minister has been stressing over and over again towards a developed India. None noted the 2017 proclamation the PM made when he suggested ending the VIP culture with an EPI (every person is important) culture. Nevertheless, changing people’s mindset is not beyond the capacity of even a powerful man as the PM.
Without a doubt almost every pedestrian, commuter and driver on the streets might have tasted the rough hands of VIP escorts and their arrogant drivers. The citizens can no longer rely on the ones who make the laws, enforce and interpret them because they are the one who brazenly violate the law of the land. What is left is attitude change and conscience to guide a person before VIP escorts kill another human. For the citizenry, empathy is the need in order to make equal noise for every strata of the society, especially the marginalised.
