Shillong: Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Monday refuted allegations against him and his convoy, which were linked to the death of a youth on the way to the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Terming the allegations as a “blatant lie,” Lyngdoh dismissed the “hit-and-run” narrative as a fabricated story. He explained that his vehicle was positioned behind the Chief Minister’s convoy, with his convoy and several other vehicles stuck in heavy traffic.
He stated that due to the large volume of vehicles and pedestrians, all vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace, frequently stopping for several minutes as traffic came to a complete halt. “There was simply no space to move forward, so how could there have been a hit-and-run accident under such conditions?” Lyngdoh said.
The minister further clarified that he had been informed the motorcycle, ridden by the youth who later succumbed to his injuries, had been traveling on the wrong side of the road. It allegedly hit the rear of Lyngdoh’s vehicle before veering across to the opposite side, where it was struck by another car, leading to the youth’s tragic death and injuries to the pillion rider.
He pointed out that if a police vehicle had indeed been involved, it would have been natural for witnesses to record the incident. “In today’s age, the first thing people would do is videotape an accident. There were thousands of road users stuck in traffic—at least 30 to 40 people should have recorded the incident. But none of that happened,” Lyngdoh noted. “This indicates that the story is entirely fabricated.”
Lyngdoh went on to suggest that the allegations may have been driven by malice, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the government and the tourism department, which had successfully organized the festival. “It seems there are ulterior motives behind these accusations, intended to defame the government and create controversy around what has been the most successful festival since its inception,” he said.
When asked if he suspected any political motive behind the allegations, Lyngdoh did not rule out the possibility. “There is a lot of hate and malice directed towards those in power,” he acknowledged. “But remember, this is an elected government. The same people who are now accusing us overwhelmingly voted for us. We are here by democratic choice, not force.”
Regarding the ongoing investigation, the minister confirmed that inquiries were underway. The vehicle used by his security personnel is currently in the possession of the local police station in Umiam. Lyngdoh added that his security personnel have been asked to provide statements to the investigating officer as part of the legal process.
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