Hawkers not only face constant threat of eviction but also police excesses. Picture by Eastern Projections

The cruel arm of law

On July 26 at Polo Bazaar in Shillong, we observed that policemen and municipality officials, while evicting hawkers, went to the extent of assaulting them, in clear violation of all known laws. The bystanders were shocked to see the officer in-charge of the police station at Pasteur Institute in Polo Bazaar dragging two women by the hair and hitting them.

I wonder if there is any clause in the Municipal Act, the IPC or any other law, which empowers a police officer to assault and hit innocent civilians in such a manner.

On the other hand, I was really shocked to see unhindered sale of illicit liquor in Polo Bazaar. But it appears that the officer in-charge is not taking any action against hooch traders. It seems there is a mutual understanding among them.

The high-handedness of the police should be condemned by all right-thinking people of the state.

Soma Raha,
Shillong

Scholarships, please

I would like to highlight one of the main factors responsible for depriving meritorious students of the region from bagging seats at prestigious colleges and institutions of the country.

Studying in such educational institutions entails expenditure of agood amount of money on the part of the students. And most of the parents find it hard to bear the high cost of education. So the only option left for the students is to study in their hometowns.

Under such circumstances, the governments of respective states can come forward. If all the states of the Northeast start giving scholarships to students who have scored brilliant marks for their studies, then a good number of students can fulfil their dreams to study in prestigious colleges.

I would like to request all the state governments of the region to immediately institute such scholarships or purvey financial assistance to brilliant students.

Dimbeshwar Gogoi,
North Lakhimpur

Manipur blockade

The economic blockade called by the All Naga Students? Association of Manipur (Ansam) in Manipur in support of its demand for establishment of a greater Nagalim is causing havoc in the entire state.

Owing to the blockade, food and other essential items have stopped entering the state. Under such circumstances, the people are on the verge of starving.

Sale of goods in the black market has caused the prices of all commodities to escalate.

Despite repeated appeals by the state government, the blockade is continuing. The time has come when the Centre should intervene.

The Centre should immediately force the students? union to withdraw the blockade and allow commodities to flow into the state without any delay.

Trishna Singha,
Imphal

Unwarranted controversy

A peaceful state like Meghalaya has been witnessing a series of bandhs, road blockades, arson of government vehicles and other such vandalism. There is no proper atmosphere conducive for educational facilities and the student community has been hit hard, both in Shillong and Tura.

If this is allowed to continue, the tourist flow to Shillong, popularly known as the ?Scotland of the East?, will cease. Taking advantage of the road blockade, only unscrupulous businessmen will reap the benefits.

I fail to understand why the leaders of the students? union want bifurcation of the Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education office at Tura. This is an unwarranted issue. However, the D.D. Lapang government is firm on not bifurcating the office of the board.

But road blockades have been organised by the Khasi Students? Union (KSU) at regular intervals, causing inconvenience to all concerned.

If this is allowed to continue, an artificial famine may take place.

Food items are supplied to Shillong only by road. If blockades and bandhs are allowed to continue, the states of Mizoram and Tripura will also be hit hard.

A direct confrontation between the Khasis and Garos must be avoided for a prosperous Meghalaya. There should be no retaliation.

The entire issue can be settled amicably.

The board office should remain permanently at Tura.

Suren Ram Phookan,
Shillong

Minority threat

It appears that as many as 27 minority organisations have decided to exert pressure on the Centre to promulgate an ordinance under Article 123 of the Constitution for judicial protection from harassment to the minority communities following the repeal of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act by the apex court.

This is nothing new in Assam. Some minority organisations, backed by some of their MLAs and ministers, are in the habit of fomenting tension.

It reminds us of the situation in Assam when Bimala Prasad Chaliha was chief minister. He decided to detect and deport the then Pakistani nationals (now Bangladeshis) from Assam.

Following the decision, all the minority MLAs, including ministers of the Chaliha cabinet, resigned en masse. They were probably 11 in number. But thanks to the bold steps taken by the chief minister, the minority MLAs and ministers had no alternative but to come back to the fold.

Though action was taken against the Pakistani nationals, the then Congress ministry in Assam was not defeated and ruled Assam at a stretch for many years.

The Congress governments in Assam and at the Centre should not be afraid of the threats from some minority organisations in this respect. It is the policy of some minority organisations to obtain all sorts of facilities from the government by hook or by crook.

The All Assam Students Union should also remain vigilant so that illegal migrants are deported by the government under due process of law.

N. Deka,
Guwahati