Calcutta Telegraph: Shillong:
Wednesday, March 27, 2013.
 |
| Agnes Kharshiing (centre) being taken to court in Shillong on Tuesday. |
Civil Society
Women’s Organisation (CSWO) leader and RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing was
arrested by Meghalaya police in the early hours today for allegedly barging
into the main secretariat building.
Kharshiing
was arrested around 6am from her residence on Bomfyle Road, under Laitumkhrah
police station, and taken to Shillong Sadar police station.
According to
the Meghalaya police website, one E. Lyngdoh, holding the rank of deputy
secretary, secretariat administration department (establishment) had lodged a
complaint at Shillong Sadar police station that on March 20, Kharshiing, along
with three other women, had barged into the main secretariat building through
the first gate.
However, when
special branch personnel on duty, D. Shira and A. Dhar, prevented them, they
abused the personnel, the complainant alleged.
Kharshiing
was booked under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public
servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge
of his duty) and 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal
Code (IPC).
She was later
forwarded to the court of the chief judicial magistrate, and was subsequently
released on bail. Kharshiing’s legal counsel Poonam Yadav said the arrest was
totally “unjustified”.
Speaking to
reporters after coming out of court, Kharshiing said on March 20 she had gone
to the secretariat, along with the mother of a rape victim to get compensation.
She had also wanted to enter the media centre.
She alleged
that the police personnel on duty were extremely rude, especially to the mother
of the rape victim. March 20, being a Wednesday and, therefore, a “no visitors”
day, Kharshiing was later escorted to the media centre by one of the officials.
“How can it
be a trespass when the secretariat is public property?” she asked.
Stating that
she will not be cowed down by the arrest, Kharshiing said the police action was
only to intimidate NGO members and the public.
Kharshiing
has been in the forefront of a campaign to bring out several flaws and alleged
scams in government departments through the RTI Act, 2005.
Meanwhile,
members of different pressure groups including the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia
& Garo People (FKJGP) met home minister Roshan Warjri to apprise her of the
“wrongful arrest” and allegations against Kharshiing and the abuse of power by
the police department.
“It is
obvious that the FIR was instigated because of Kharshiing’s activism and known
interventions in many cases, especially in trying to secure the rights and
justice of the poor and the oppressed,” the groups said in a letter to Warjri.
The groups
also requested Warjri to intervene in the case as it was a “gross violation” of
the process of law and abuse of power.
Reacting to
the incident, Angela Rangad, another RTI activist, demanded the tapes, in full,
of the security camera of the gate at the main secretariat for March 20.
Kharshiing’s
elder brother Robert Kharshiing, who is also a former Rajya Sabha MP, in an
open letter to chief minister Mukul M. Sangma, said, “I demand the sacking or
punishment of the concerned government officials, police or politicians who
were involved in the filing of the FIR against a leading woman activist.”
The former
parliamentarian also requested the Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas
Kabir, to take suo motu notice of this letter and issue showcause notice to the
state government and the Meghalaya police.
“It is
important to take exemplary action against the concerned officers and
politicians at the highest levels so that it sends a strong signal to all male
police officers that such obstruction of justice for a rape victim will no
longer be tolerated in India,” he said.
He also said
that he would convene a meeting of all legislators to consider changing this
“anti-woman” government in Meghalaya.
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