The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned the East Khasi Hills district administration for its alleged failure to tackle the alarming rise in crimes against children, some as young as four years old.
BJP state general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna said that the administration has “failed to discharge its duties from every angle” despite multiple incidents that have shocked the public in recent weeks.
“Even after so many disturbing cases, the district administration has done nothing to ensure deterrence. There is no heightened police presence, no regular patrolling, not even organized night vigils to ensure that criminals don’t get a free run,” Pohshna said.
He added that such preventive measures are essential across all sensitive areas, and that entry and exit points should be monitored round the clock, especially in localities where crimes against children are being reported.
The BJP has also urged the administration to seek support from local dorbars and deploy both Village Defence Party (VDP) and police personnel to strengthen security. Pohshna further called for all schools to step up their internal safety measures by involving volunteers to ensure the protection of students.
“However, a quick look at the ground reality shows that in Shillong, no such steps have been implemented. The administration seems to become active only during events like the Cherry Blossom Festival or football tournaments,” he remarked.
He also pointed out that late-night drinking inside cars continues to be a major nuisance in several localities and that areas known to be drug and addiction hubs require urgent intervention in coordination with community bodies.
Terming the sequence of child-related crimes as “very serious,” Pohshna urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation and involve experts, including assistance from the Union Home Ministry, to address the root causes of such crimes.
“It appears that organized crime is taking place across localities,” he said, adding that officers responsible for maintaining law and order should not need to be reminded of their basic duties.
“If they are unable to perform their responsibilities effectively, the government must immediately remove such officers and replace them with more efficient and accountable personnel,” Pohshna asserted.
