SHILLONG : Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has launched a scathing attack on the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, holding what he described as state “apathy” directly responsible for the killing of a youth at Goalgaon under Rajabala in West Garo Hills.
Reacting to the incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of Rajabala Police Station, Dr. Sangma alleged that the government’s failure to curb illegal mining and illegal trade has created a climate of lawlessness across Meghalaya.
“The government is the author of all illegal activities taking place in the state,” Dr. Sangma said, asserting that the rise in violent crime is the inevitable outcome of the administration’s refusal to strictly enforce the law. He accused the government of granting “silent approval” to illegal operations, allowing criminal networks to function with impunity.
Failure to Enforce MRSSA
Dr. Sangma specifically flagged the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), stating that the government’s inability to operationalize the Act has left the state vulnerable. He pointed out that the absence of effective entry and exit points along the Assam–Meghalaya border has enabled illegal operators to move freely without oversight.
Had the MRSSA been properly implemented and thoroughfares monitored, he argued, illegal mining sites would not have turned into flashpoints for violence.
Goalgaon Incident “Tip of the Iceberg”
While expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life, the former Chief Minister warned that the Goalgaon killing is merely the “tip of the iceberg,” particularly in the Garo Hills region.
According to preliminary information, the incident may have been triggered when members of an NGO allegedly attempted to stop illegal stone quarrying in the area. Dr. Sangma urged the district administration to handle the matter with extreme sensitivity and ensure that the incident is not given a communal or ethnic colour.
He cautioned that the state is gradually sliding into a situation of “total confusion,” attributing the deterioration of law and order to the government’s “denial mode” and persistent silence on illegal activities.
“This bloodletting is the direct result of the government looking the other way,” he said, alleging that the administration has chosen to prioritise illegal trade over the lives of its citizens.
Dr. Sangma said he is in the process of gathering detailed ground reports to ascertain whether the NGO’s intervention against illegal quarrying was indeed the immediate trigger for the violence, while reiterating the need for peace, stability, and strict enforcement of the law.
