By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, MAR 15: The Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) today demanded from the state government to remove the culture of “Blue Eyed Boys” and adopt a rational and fair policy of posting police officers.
“Let this culture of blue eyed boys be done away with, and then only we can see a reduction in the crime graph of Meghalaya,” UDP legislator from West Shillong Paul Lyngdoh said while moving a cut motion to discuss the failure of the Home (Police) department on all fronts and justification of spending over Rs 22 crore more on a failed department in the Assembly here on Wednesday.
“If we are serious and if we mean business to justify this expenditure, let a policy of rational and fair posting of police officers be adopted,” he added.
Moreover, he warned that if such a trend was allowed to continue, people’s faith in the system will continue to dwindle to a point where people would have to call on insurgent groups for justice.
Referring to the various unresolved cases especially on crimes against women, Lyngdoh wondered as to why the police were becoming complacent coupled with a sinking morale.
To this, he said having too many blue eyed boys who are allowed to stay in the same place for many years specify that a district like East Khasi Hills and Shillong city has zero conviction in cases of rape, molestation, killings and abductions.
He also referred to a case by naming the incumbent SP (City) Vivek Syiem whom he alleged was posted in the same place for the past 10 years and until today.
“Why is it that other officers continue to be transferred within a span of 2 years and what is it that prevented for such officers to be transferred… I suspect that there is tendency of what is called ‘I scratch your back and you scratch mine’,” he said.
The UDP legislator also got annoyed when the Assembly Speaker AT Mondal asked him to stick to the explanatory note of the cut motion and said, “This is my third time as a public representative, and I don’t need to be coached as I know my rights.”
“If we don’t discuss such issues here then where is the other platform?” he asked.
Demanding a categorical assurance from the minister, the legislator said that if an officer is posted in a particular place for 10 years, it makes him subject to being influenced and over familiar with the system thereby developing vested interest.
In his reply, home minister HDR Lyngdoh assured the House that the morale of the police department would be maintained and that the state government will examine and take a decision on merit.
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