Bernard remanded to 8 days police custody, police files fresh FIR under POCSO

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 28, 2022

A fresh FIR has been filed by West Garo Hills District on Thursday after it was found that one of the accused minors from BJP leader Bernard N Marak’s farm house have been sexually assaulted.

“As per medical reports of one of the rescued children, it has been found that the child has been sexually assaulted,” WGH Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh Rathore said.

“Accordingly, a fresh FIR is being registered under POCSO Act,” he added.

Meanwhile, Marak has been brought back to Tura and produced before a local court.

He has been remanded to 8 days police custody, the SP said.

A team of District Child Protection Unit and Meghalaya Police went to Rimpu Bagan to collect the clothes and books of the rescued children. 

During this exercise, they found one small door like structure. When this door was broke open, following explosives and other weapons were recovered.

These include 35 Gelatin sticks (explosive substance), 100 detonators, 4 of cross bows and 15 arrows. 

All the items were seized in presence of independent witnesses and shall be produced in court shortly.

“We will adding charges under Explosives Substances Act, 1908 against Marak,” the SP said.

On Wednesday, Marak was produced before the Hapur district court in Uttar Pradesh after he was arrested for allegedly running a brothel at his farm house from where five minors have been rescued by the state police.

The UP police had swung into action based on a lookout notice issued by Meghalaya police to all police stations of all states and Union Territories and arrested the absconded BJP leader while he was travelling on a taxi.

On July 22, West Garo Hills police had busted a prostitution racket in the private farm house run by the BJP MDC which led to the arrest of 73 persons and rescue of 5 children besides seizure of liquors and unused contraceptives.

The BJP state vice president had categorically denied running a brothel at his private farm ‘Rimpu Bagan’ and alleged that the police raid was staged since BJP is growing from strength to strength in Garo Hills region.

Bernard further claimed that he is not evading arrest but is fearful for his life as the Chief Minister had issued a special order to gun him down.

When asked, Rathore had said that the accused MDC was just giving absurd statements to somehow gain public sympathy because police have strong evidence against him. “Making such an allegation (to gun him down) is just a ploy to divert attention and politicize the matter,” the SP stated.