SHILLONG, AUG 19: On the backdrop of the killings of three persons by frenzied mob in Smit suspecting them of practicing witchcraft, the Smit village dorbar elders have asked chief minister Mukul Sangma to empower the dorbar with “village police” and “magisterial power” to maintain law and order in their village.
The three persons who were killed by the angry mob have been identified as Yesly Mawthoh, his son D Nongdhar and Besly Mawthoh. The three were killed by the mob after one person who had gone missing but was reportedly found by his family members lying in a very serious injured condition on the road had alleged that the three had perform some sort of black magic on him.
After the allegation, an angry mob stormed into the house of the family and killed them late Friday night.
A delegation of Smit village elders met Sangma on Monday and sought his intervention to enable and empower the dorbars to act as legalized sentinel of peace and also to stop witchcraft related violence from recurring.
Smit village sordar Kynsai Manik Syiem told reporters after the meeting,“ We have requested the state government to empower the village dorbar shnong with village police and magisterial powers so as to assist the district administration in maintaining law and order.
Beside asking the government to review the functioning of the VDP so as to equip them with enough power and wherewithal to be able to act effectively during such mob related violence, Syiem also suggested to the government that the response police teams must be placed with the Madanrtying police station, as the present jurisdiction of Madanryting police station covers the whole of Mawkynrew C&RD block and a large part of Mawryngkneng and Mylliem C&RD block.
Syiem said , “The police force must explore effective confidence building measures, adopt specific strategies to effectively evaluate complaint from the village dorbar, including maintaining proper communication with the village elders prior to such response so as to avoid and minimize conflict with the public.”
In a memorandum submitted to Sangma, the dorbar shnong suggested that the village dorbar be provided with specific identity or jackets to enable them to use and assist the district administration and police in the maintenance of law and order.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, Syiem said, “It is a very unfortunate that such an incident took place.”
Syiem informed that the Smit dorbar shnong would soon convene an executive committee meeting to discuss the need to create mass awareness among the residents that it is illegal to take law into their own hands.”
Even as Syiem said that the dorbar shnong is willing to cooperate with the police to apprehend those responsible for the heinous killing, the police is yet to make any arrest. East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang told this website that investigation is on and soon those who are involved in the murder will be arrested. – By Our Reporter
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