SHILLONG:
The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP), on September 4, demanded proper investigation into the use of excessive force during a protest against expansion of Meghalaya Cement Limited at Thangskai recently.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, VPP general secretary Ricky A J Syngkon has questioned the style of functioning of the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board and Home department in connection with the conduct of the public hearing at Thangskai.
“The observable collusion of the state agencies with the private company to torment the local population by conducting the said public hearing undemocratically and without adhering to the principle of transparency ought to be condemned in strongest possible words especially the brutality meted out the people by the police personnel,” he said.
In this regard, Syngkon said that “The party strongly urges you to (order) proper investigation on the excessive use of force should be conducted and the state government should promptly punish the culprits.”
The VPP also demanded the government to immediately suspend all the police officers and constables involved in the barbaric attack against the local people especially women and to effect immediate arrest of the officials of the Meghalaya Cement Limited involved in instigating the police personnel to commit excessive force against the unarmed people.
The party also demanded the government to effect an immediate transfer of the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police.
“(The government should also) initiate an inquiry into the conduct of the officials of the MSPCB for conducting the public hearing in an undemocratic manner denying the right of participation to the local resident dissenting against the expansion of the MCL and should reject any expansion plan of the concerned cement company,” the letter stated.