Shillong, August 30: A One Day Workshop for headmen on mob lynching and victims of drug and substance abuse organized by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India was held today at St. Edmund’s College, Shillong.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice H. S. Thangkhiew, Executive Chairman, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority and Judge, High Court of Meghalaya graced the occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence of Shri W. Diengdoh, District and Session Judge, East Khasi Hills District, Shri N.A. Khan, Member Secretary, MSLSA, Dr. Sylvanus Lamare, Principal, St. Edmund’s College, headmen and students.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Justice Thangkhiew said that mob lynching is harmful to society and therefore called upon the headmen, being the first person in contact with the offender in the society, to inform law enforcement agencies if they see any suspicious activity taking place in their localities.
Stating that obedience of the law is very important, Mr. Justice Thangkhiew urged the people not to take the law into their own hands to punish any culprit as the law is above all.
To curb mob violence, lynching and superstition sparked by rumours mainly through social media, Mr. Justice Thangkhiew urged the headmen and students for the judicious use of the medium.
Opining that drugs and substance abuse is a major threat to the health of the people and growth of the community, Mr. Justice Thangkhiew stressed that there is a need to intensify public awareness about the ill effect of drug and substance abuse, adding that we need to have compassion with the victims of drug and substance abuse and extend our helping hand in their de- addiction.
The topics for the workshop include “victims of drug and substance abuse”, “mob lynching” and “basic life support”.
