Thaindian News

Shillong, Dec 20 (IANS) A top Meghalaya police official Tuesday apologised before the chairman of the state assembly’s privileges and ethics committee on behalf of the two traffic police officials who had earlier booked him for a traffic violation.

“Additional Director General of Police Rajiv Mehta came to my house and apologised on apologised on behalf of the two police officials,” panel chairman Ronnie V. Lyngdoh told IANS

The two traffic police officials — traffic in-charge Inspector Cherry Shadap and constable Sandeep Thapa — were supposed to appear before the committee after they booked Lyngdoh for breaking traffic laws.

Thapa had booked Lyngdoh earlier this month for parking his vehicle at a ‘No Parking Zone’ here in Shillong.

Meanwhile, the members of the privilege and ethics committee Tuesday alleged that the chairman did not consult them before summoning the two police officials to appear before the committee.

“We were never consulted to send summons to the two police officials,” some members of the committee told journalists, on condition of anonymity.

According to the rules and procedures, they said that the complaints are first referred to the speaker and who in turn directs the committee to deliberate on the merit of the complaint.

“It is only after a proper discussion is held in the committee amongst the members that summons are sent based on consensus. But in this case (Lyngdoh’s case), the chairman didn’t call us for a meeting to discuss on the issue,” the members alleged.

Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said he was “unaware” of any senior police official going to Lyngdoh’s residence and tendering an apology on behalf of the two police officials.

“Nobody is above the law and everyone should be treated equally. Even if I break the law, the law should take its own course,” Lyngdoh told IANS.

Earlier, several organisations decried the action of the house panel and lauded the two traffic personnel for trying to uphold the law.

Civil Society Women’s Organisation chief Agnes Kharshiing said: “Legislators cannot violate the very laws that are laid down just because they happen to enjoy certain privileges.”

“The police are there to see that laws are not violated and are applied equally to everyone. Privileges should be guided by laws and not by the whims and fancies of those who are there for five years,” she added.

Last week, a traffic policeman had slapped a fine of Rs.1,000 on Community and Rural Development Minister Saleng A. Sangma for parking his brand new SUV at an unauthorised place.