Police officer who asks Congress MLA to remove tinted glass from vehicle tenders apology

Shillong, Sept 5: A police officer who asked an MLA to remove tinted glass from his vehicle on Thursday tendered an apology before the Assembly’s Privileges Committee, which summoned him for his alleged ‘rude behaviour’ towards the MLA of Rambrai-Jyrngam, Kimfa Sydney Marbañiang while asking him to remove tinted films from his private vehicle recently.

The committee headed by Gambegre MLA, Saleng A Sangma however directed the deputy superintendent of police (Dy.SP Traffic), W. Momin to submit a written apology and to again appear before the committee for taking a final call on the matter during its sitting on Friday.

The complaint against Momin was filed by Kimfa, the Congress legislator from Rambrai-Jyrngam.

The committee during its sitting on Friday, has warned of initiating action against SP (Traffic), Bikram D Marak for divulging about the complaint to the media before it was taken up by the Privileges Committee of the Assembly.

The members of the committee include Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang (Mawsynram), George B Lyngdoh (Umroi), Dikkanchi D Shira (Mahendraganj), Dr Azad Aman (Rajabala) and Jason Sawkmie Mawlong (Umsning).

The Director General of Police (DGP) R Chandranathan and Secretary (home department) S. Kharlyngdoh were also present after they were summoned by the committee.

“We have summoned the DSP and he has apologized before us and (also expressed that) he is willing to apologize even before the MLA,” Saleng told reporters after the meeting.

Stating that the complaint was on the behavior of the concerned officer, the chairman however said, “The fact which was carried out by the media was totally diverted and not on this particular complaint of the MLA.”

Elaborating further, Shangpliang said the incident had taken place on August 7, when the Rambrai MLA was caught in a traffic jam at Motphran area. The Dy.SP who was on duty had behaved in a very rude manner towards the MLA as he shouted while asking that the tinted glass should be removed. The altercation continued for about 10 minutes.

“Marbaniang reported to the committee that he felt very insulted because many people (who had gathered there) knew that he is an MLA, and he was surprised that this officer refused to acknowledge that he is an MLA. So today’s meeting was on the rude behavior of Momin,” he said.

He said the committee has asked Momin to appear again on Friday with a written apology adding “the committee will then sit to examine whether the apology letter will be considered or not.”

The Mawsynram legislator also informed that the committee has also taken strong cognizance in which the SP (Traffic) for divulging to the press and media that the Privileges Committee had summoned his Dy.SP because he wanted to remove the tinted glass of the MLA.

“This has flared up in the media including certain section of the NGOs and thus inciting and tarnishing the image of not just the particular MLA but all the MLAs of the state. This inappropriate action of the SP (Traffic) was uncalled for without really knowing the reason for which the privilege committee had summoned the Dy.SP, he had assumed onto himself that the committee had summoned the Dy.SP because he wanted to do his duty in removing the tinted glasses,” he said.

Shangpliang said the DGP has assured that he would conduct an inquiry into the action of the SP (Traffic) for divulging to the public on the proposed action to be taken by the privilege committee.

“He (Marak) himself has violated the privileges and therefore, this committee is even going to sit again to examine and think of perhaps action may also follow for the SP traffic,” he added.

When asked if MLAs are allowed to use tinted films on their vehicles, Saleng while quoting the Supreme Court’s ruling said, “It has also stated that the appropriate government is free to make any regulation that it may consider appropriate in this regard.”

Shangpliang added the state government had earlier come up with an executive order to provide some kind of exemption and have asked MLAs to submit the number plates of their respective private cars.

Meanwhile, he said the committee has decided to follow up with the government on the need to review and issue fresh executive order to exempt the MLAs, if they feel they required, so that this confusion is aborted and no longer in the minds of the people, police and legislators.