Meghalaya Day observed

SHILLONG, Jan 23 — The 30th anniversary of the creation of Meghalaya as a full-fledged State on January 21 was held with fanfare. Meghalaya came into being on January 21, 1972. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, came herself to inaugurate the new State at a mammoth gathering, at the Polo ground, Shillong, states a release. Incidentally, the date also coincides with the raising day of the First Meghalaya battalion. This took effect with the conversion of the 7th Assam Police battalion into the 1st Meghalaya Police Batallion at Mawiong, Shillong. With the epassage of time, the small police force grew from strength to strength, by the creation of two more battalions, viz the 2nd MLP Bn at Goeragre, Tura and the 3rd MLP Bn (IRB) at Siejlieh, Nongstoin. In addition, all the seven districts of the State with headquarters at Jowai, Shillong, Nongpoh, Nongstoin, Williamagar, Tura and Baghmara have their own district executive force (DEF). The Meghalaya Police Radio Organisation (MPRO), the Forensic Science laboratory (FSL), the Special branch (SB), the Infiltration branch (Infil), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) the State Fire Service (FS), the Police training School, Mawroh (PTS) the Public Relation Cell and the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB) are the other wings of the Meghalaya Police. Meghalaya Police also joined in the celebrations of the Meghalaya Day in its own style. On the above date, the State fire Service (FS) took out a procession of fire service personnel accompanied by fire trenders and displaying of fire fighting equipment in the main localities of Shillong town. From the traffic branch, the personnel also moved around the city distributing pamphlets on road safety rules, both for the drivers and the pedestrians.