BJP MDC denies running a brothel, questions timing of police raid

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 23, 2022

BJP state vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has categorically denied running a brothel at his private farm “Rimpu Bagan” and alleged that the police raid was conducted without warrant at the instruction of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

He also questioned the timing of the raid conducted on Friday evening with regards to a POCSO case registered in February this year.

“Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has made things very personal by asking the police department to link yesterday’s raid with some POCSO case in February because I was always cooperating with any investigation and we’re never absconding. Why should that case be linked to yesterday’s raid now?” Marak said in a statement issued on Saturday.  

“A premeditated raid was conducted in my private farm house and later at my mom’s house and all allegations are targeted to arrest me with fabricated allegations. The raid was conducted without warrant at the instruction of the Chief Minister wherein all the state machinery has been abused by the CM,” he added.

His statement came after West Garo Hills police has claimed to have busted a sex racket at Rimpu Bagan which led to the arrest of over 73 persons and rescue of five children including a girl, who were locked inside “unhygienic rooms” of the building owned by the MDC.

Also Read | Sex racket busted in building owned by BJP MDC, 5 children rescued, 75 accused in police net

Marak, who was a former chairman of the disbanded ANVC (B) said that he was shocked to see the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police present during the raid which was conducted without warrant.

“In normal circumstances, it’s the excise department which conducts such raids but in my case, it was a power head mode. All protocols are violated at will. It’s my private property and it stands outside the municipal area,” he said.

Admitting that it is true there is no license since he is a tribal, Marak however outrightly rejected the allegation of running a brothel and claimed that none of those detained were involved in any indecent activities.

He further claimed that the police trespassed and harassed the minor students whom I was sponsoring to study and alleged them to be involved in sexual activities which are so bad.

“It’s very immature on the side of the Chief Minister to target me and my family members just because he is losing ground politically,” he stated.

Stating that people are losing faith in the NPP-led government in the state and it is sure that NPP will lose most of the seats in the state, Marak said the night before the raid, some NPP youths were engaging in negative postings and the night after the raid.

“Many NPP supporters were posting the matters first hand as the only media that accompanied the raid was NPP sponsored Hub news,” he alleged while adding “The desperate attempt to malign my image and harass my family members and supporters is eminent in the way they took the law in their hands.”

The BJP leader further alleged that even the Chief Minister also drinks and parties and most of his supporters own wine stores in the state and runs bars and asked why isn’t he within the same purview of the law? Is he above it? If he can have his private parties in his residence with alcohol being served, why can’t another citizen within the same boundary of law be allowed to do so?

He said this is a tribal state and eating and drinking is part of culture.

Alleging that the raid was a vengeful act by the CM, Marak said, “This vengeful act shows an ulterior motive behind the CM’s mind. Targeting my personal image with a greater intent aimed at the BJP, to create a negative impact on the voters mindset is what looks like the motive behind such an act.”

“Poster campaign around Tura undertaken by the NPP youth wing  against my objection in the district council to issue patta in non-scheduled areas by converting scheduled areas to non-scheduled areas shows how low he can stoop. How can the district council assign scheduled areas as non-scheduled? This is against the tribal community and in complete violation of the sixth schedule,” he said.

Stating that the BJP is raising a voice against illegal activities by NPP, Marak said, “And now the CM is doing everything within his power to ensure that the BJP doesn’t win a seat in Meghalaya.”

He said the CM’s divide and rule formula is evident as he has created a rift between the two sitting MLAs while given a ticket to Hek’s nephew to fight against him in his party ticket adding even Sanbor Shullai was unnecessarily dragged into a controversy for something that got completely blown out of proportion.

He said that ever since the NPP was sidelined in Manipur, all their frustrations are being poured in the state against the BJP.

“It’s high time that an overhyped CM, seriously underperforming government and a complete failure in all  administrative fronts be all that it takes not to vote them back to power,” Marak concluded.