Shillong, Jan 3: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday demanded the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to take appropriate steps by appointing a caretaker and security guard at the Shelter Home in Kench’s Trace.

This came after the union with the help of the Laban police had conducted inspection of the shelter home on December 28, 2023 following a video footage that went viral over social media platform exposing men and women injecting narcotic substances inside the home.

In a letter to the SMB chief executive officer (CEO), president of the KSU’s Laban Circle, Reuben Najiar, said, “Thus, the Union demands that an appropriate caretaker, security guard must be recruited immediately without fail to keep a check on the people staying in the shelter home.”

“Furthermore, proper guidelines must be set and the people cannot in any situation be allowed to drink alcohol or any other intoxicating substance inside and around the shelter home and regular and timely inspection from the authorities is needed,” he added.

He said during the course of inspection, many used and unused syringes were found from the bed of the drug peddlers, along with large numbers of empty containers suspected to contain some narcotic substances but the drug peddlers had already absconded prior to our arrival.

“Upon further enquiry, it was also revealed that most of the people staying in the said shelter home were highly intoxicated either by alcohol or other substances and also the shelter home has become a booming site for prostitution as anyone can enter without being questioned irrespective of the time. The Union cannot tolerate or allow such things to carry on and escalate beyond measures,” Najiar said while slamming that “it is the failure on the part of the authorities i.e. the Shillong Municipal Board that such things are being allowed to happen because there is no guidelines, inspections or caretaker on the part of the authorities to keep a check on the people staying in the said shelter home.”

Asserting that the shelter home is meant for the homeless and the destitute who cannot take care of themselves financially, the KSU Laban Circle president however said but, during the course of enquiry, it was brought to light that there are people and families who owns vehicle(s), have proper jobs with a stable income but are still continuing to stay in shelter home over several years and hence taking undue advantage of the free lodging and free food provided by the authorities. This in turn affect the person(s) who are in need of shelter but cannot get through because it is occupied by the person(s) who are not in need.

“Thus, the Union would humbly urge that proper verification and analysation of the person(s)/ family must be done before providing shelter and specific time frame must also be set to allow them to be financially capable of taking care of themselves and then leaving instead of living in the shelter home indefinitely and over prolonged period of time blocking other person(s) spot in need for shelter,” he wrote in the letter.

Further, Najiar said that the Union has come to learnt that the shelter home was constructed without the prior consent from the Dorbar Shnong of K.O.R and with such incidents of drugs menace, robbery, prostitution and assault taking place from time to time, this has posed a serious threat to the people of the locality.

“The Union stands along with the decision of Dorbar Shnong of K.O.R whether to allow and continue the existence of the shelter home or not as with such incidents the name of the Dorbar Shnong is discredited and its troublesome for the Dorbar members and the people of the locality to step up over such incidents time and again,” he said while urging the SMB to take appropriate steps and measures on the suggestions given by the union for the welfare of the locality and people taking refuge in the shelter home.

Also Read: Nagaland Police nabs duo suspected of trafficking drugs worth over Rs 400 cr in a year!

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