Govt to go all out against “kingpins”: CM

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAR 10: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today told the Assembly that the law and order enforcement agencies would go all out against “kingpins” in its fight against the drug menace in the state while the approach in dealing with crimes against women and children would be “reviewed”.

“We will review the whole approach in dealing with crimes against women and children in the state,” Sangma told the Assembly while replying to the debate on the Governor’s Address.

The rise in crimes against women and children has been one of the major issues raised by legislators from the Opposition and Treasury benches during the ongoing budget session.

“We are also pained to see such rising cases of crimes against women and children and this has drawn the attention of the government,” the chief minister said.

Highlighting the number of cases piling up in the different courts, Sangma said, “In view of the need to dispose of these cases, funds have been provided for constitution of Fast Tract courts besides setting up of special courts.”

He also said that the enactment of the Meghalaya Police Act and the separation of judiciary from the executive would go a long way in enabling the security apparatus to deal with such cases.

Asserting that issue of investigation, filing of charge sheet and prosecution were crucial, he said there was a need to ensure the system becomes a “strong deterrent” to perpetrators of such crimes.

“The setting up of the Directorate of Prosecution has been completed and this will ensure expediting the process of investigation and charge-sheeting,” Sangma said.

Moreover, the chief minister assured that measures would be adopted to address the drug menace. He said that he would review the issue together with the law and order situation.

“We will go after the so-called “kingpins” and ensure that this is not a place perceived as a safe haven for drug abuse,” Sangma said.

Stressing on the need to strengthen the health department and Inspectorate of Drugs, he pointed out that pharmacies have become a major concern from where the habit of drug abuse begins.

“We will ensure to regulate all sale of drugs and ensure stocks are declared on a regular basis and nothing be sold without prescription especially on psychotropic drugs,” he said.

He said that if the youths were to grow and prosper, they have to be insulated from being victims of such a menace.