By Carmel
The Khasi Students’ Union’s (KSU) allegation that some police personnel were collecting money from truck drivers at Mawkhanu and Thangshalai raises serious questions about police accountability and public trust.
The primary duty of the police is to protect lives and property, enforce the law, prevent crime and maintain peace and order. The uniform they wear symbolises public service, discipline and responsibility. It is not a licence to intimidate motorists, demand money or exploit people using public roads.
If the KSU’s allegations are substantiated, the government must explain why police personnel, whose salaries are paid from public funds, were allegedly collecting money from goods vehicles. Were they officially authorised to do so? If so, who issued the order—the Superintendent of Police, senior police officials or the government?
Whenever members of the public or civil society organisations collect money without lawful authority, the authorities can initiate legal action under applicable laws. If those entrusted with enforcing the law are found collecting money without receipts or lawful authorisation, the same standards of accountability must apply to them. Wearing a uniform cannot make an otherwise unlawful act legitimate.
Police personnel have no general authority to arbitrarily collect money from vehicles on public roads. Any toll, tax or road-use fee must be collected by a legally authorised department or agency through an established procedure. Similarly, any lawful traffic penalty must be imposed through the prescribed process and supported by the appropriate documentation.
The public is therefore entitled to ask: Where did the money allegedly collected from truck drivers go? Was it deposited in the government treasury? Were official challans or receipts issued? Or did the money remain with the individuals concerned?
If the collections were made on behalf of the government, the authorities must produce the relevant records. If no official authorisation or accounting exists, the matter warrants a thorough investigation.
The alleged collection of ₹200 to ₹500 from each truck is not merely an issue affecting drivers and transporters. It could have wider economic consequences. Additional transportation expenses may be passed on to traders and consumers, contributing to higher prices for food and other essential commodities. Ultimately, ordinary citizens could bear the financial burden of such alleged practices.
More damaging still is the potential erosion of public confidence in the police. If police personnel are found stopping vehicles and demanding money, as alleged, citizens will understandably question whether they can rely on the force for protection. A police uniform should inspire confidence and security, not fear or the feeling of being exploited on the highway.
The government must neither remain silent nor allow the allegations to go unexamined. It should order an independent, transparent and time-bound inquiry. Investigators should examine the video footage reportedly recorded by the KSU, question the truck drivers concerned, identify the personnel deployed at the locations and scrutinise duty rosters, CCTV footage and other available evidence.
If the allegations are substantiated, merely transferring the personnel concerned would not be sufficient. Appropriate departmental proceedings and legal action should follow, depending on the evidence and the applicable law.
At the same time, the entire police force should not be condemned because of allegations against particular personnel. Many officers serve honestly under difficult conditions and risk their lives to maintain public safety. Holding individuals accountable for misconduct is essential not only to protect the public but also to preserve the reputation of those who discharge their duties with integrity.
The KSU deserves recognition for responding to public complaints and bringing the allegations to the attention of the authorities. However, the evidence should now be placed before the appropriate independent investigating authority so that the facts can be established fairly and impartially. No individual, regardless of rank or position, should be shielded from accountability if wrongdoing is proved.
The government must remember that public trust cannot be sustained through assurances alone. It must be earned through transparency, accountability and decisive action against the misuse of official authority.
The allegations remain to be independently verified, and the police and district administration should be given an opportunity to present their responses. Nevertheless, the questions raised by the KSU demand clear answers.
Are the police on public roads to protect citizens and enforce the law, or are some personnel exploiting their authority at the expense of the very people they are duty-bound to serve?
The government must answer—not with silence, but with facts, transparency and action.
