Shillong, Oct 31: The Village Defence Party (VDP), a crucial entity at grassroots level to assist police in tackling crimes, has found it tough to do a part of their job – posing as witness in crime cases.
VDP members are often called as court witnesses in the cases where they were involved in arrest of the accused.
However, having offered only honorarium that too not regular, the VDP members are finding it difficult in sparing whole days to stand as witness in the court.
A memorandum in this regard was submitted by Village Defence Primary Committee Nongstoin Area (VDPCNA) to the state DGP Idashisha Nongrang on Thursday, seeking her intervention to help resolve their issues including the witness issue.
Urging the need to exempt VDP members from witness duty, the committee said, “When VDPCNA apprehends drug or liquor peddlers and hands them over to the police, our members are often called as witnesses in related cases.”
Explaining that VDP members have to tend to their daily responsibilities to support their families, VDPCNA president Mawkordor Kharsyiemlieh said, “We humbly request that VDPCNA members be exempted from witness duties and police department takes necessary steps in this matter.”
Stating that the VDP unit had been facing the challenge since its inception in 2019, she said the committee has diligently worked to minimise crime and anti-social activities in Nongstoin and consistently collaborated with West Khasi Hills police in apprehending criminals.
However, the VDPCNA admitted that despite their best efforts, certain crimes and disturbances continued to persist, creating challenges for the VDP members.
The committee, meanwhile, requested provision of uniforms labelled with VDPCNA to help distinguish VDP members from the public.
“This would instil confidence (among public) during raids and patrols,” he said.
The committee also urged the DGP to look into the delay in processing the honorarium for VDP members.
“Several VDP units at village level have been waiting for registration since 2010, depriving them of honorariums, tools and kits provided by the police department,” the letter said.
Blaming the “rigid renewal system” for the delay in honorariums, the committee urged the DGP to streamline registration and renewal process for these committees.
Asserting its commitment towards addressing drug abuse, drinking in public, street fighting and violent crimes in Nongstoin town, the committee proposed regular night patrols along main roads of the town, installation of CCTV cameras and stricter enforcement against illegal alcohol sales.
