VPP terms police action against HITO as political vendetta

SHILLONG, SEP 5: The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday said the invocation of section 171 and 34 of the IPC and section 105 of the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010 against the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) revealed the abuse of power by the Police department.

“The Police department has grossly misinterpreted the provisions of law to make a false case against the organisation,” VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said in a statement here.

He said that it may be noted that the HITO directly and openly campaigned against the NPP and especially the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong in the last Assembly election adding “It is clearly visible to any sensible human being that the Department follows a vendetta politics against those who choose to be critical of the State Government.”

Condemning the style of functioning of the Home (Police) department under the charge of Tynsong, Dr Myrboh said that the party also strongly condemned the police personnel involved in the disproportionate use of force against the unarmed public on September 4, during the march of the HITO causing distress to the common citizens who had to face the brunt of the police brutality.

“The action of the police Department at Thangskai and at Shillong and the incidents in the recent past strongly suggests that the Meghalaya Police personnel are mentally and psychologically weak to handle even slightest provocation,” he said.

The VPP further demanded that stringent action must be taken against the concerned police officer(s) on duty for the decision leading to brutal action by the police personnel and other violations of professional ethics including using slang words publicly without any restraint.

“All the injured person(s) and those who have suffered other form of losses by this unwarranted action by the police personnel must be satisfactorily compensated by the government,” Myrboh said.

Meanwhile, the VPP also demanded that the Deputy Chief Minister should own responsibility and ensure that his department conducts itself professionally and in a restrained manner befitting a democratic system.

By our Reporter