SHILLONG:
State Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has said that no officer has the right to harass innocent people.
Rymbui was reacting to claims by the state unit of the BJP that some of its party members were harassed by police recently after the arrest of state unit vice-president Bernard Marak.
“But if there is anything which is linked to the case, for the sake of investigation the police are within their right to do necessary things and substantiate the case,” the Home minister said.
Stating that this was a usual procedure he added that there was no harassment as alleged.
“Nobody is above the law, even the police who are the law implementing agency, they have no right to harass innocent persons,” Rymbui added.
He said that besides the investigation into the raid conducted in the farmhouse of Marak on July 22 a magisterial inquiry has also been instituted.
On the demand of the BJP to remove the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of West Garo Hills, the Home minister pointed out that the duty of the police officers is to see that law and order prevails and all criminal activities should be contained or eradicated.
“The question of removing officers because of the demand of somebody does not arise, but if they do anything which is found wanting we have no other option but to remove them,” Rymbui added.