Congress demands independent probe into sex racket involving a BJP leader

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 24, 2022

The Congress on Sunday demanded for an immediate independent investigation into the sex racket busted by police in the private farm house of a BJP leader in Garo Hills. 

In a statement, Congress vice president Ronnie V Lyngdoh said, “There should be immediate independent investigation to unveil the truth behind such shameless and nefarious activities which has been happening in the state and that too very close to where the Chief Minister resides. All the arrested persons must be sent to judicial custody so that more incriminating information can be got from them without tampering any evidence.”

He said that let us not forget that a case of sexual assault on a minor girl surfaced from this place -Rimpu Bagan – on February when the family members of the victim had filed a police case. 

“From this incident it can only be said that the police were not totally clueless about the existence of this place and the kind of nefarious activities which was going on here under their nose,” he said.

He said the police today have ascertained that a minor girl was sexually assaulted multiple times over one week, and a case was registered under IPC sections 366A (procuration of minor girl), 376 (punishment for rape) and sections of the POCSO Act.

“Thus, without wasting any time, the Home minister must answer as to why it took so long to raid this place. Was there pressure from the BJP or was there a tacit understanding between Marak and the top Garo leaders in the NPP,” Lyngdoh said. 

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He further added, “Further, what must not be allowed to go abegging are questions which the chief minister has to answer. Afterall all these were happening under the very nose of the Chief Minister.” 

He said in fact Marak’s resort where the raid was conducted is located not at a great distance from the Chief Minister’s residence and it should not come as a surprise if some of the arrested are close associates of the NPP. 

Lyngdoh said the police raid at a farmhouse of State BJP vice president Bernard N Marak on Saturday is just the tip of the iceberg of what possibly could be laying beneath the dark underbelly of the present MDA ruling dispensation led by Conrad Sangma and his party the NPP. 

He said the incident comes at a time when the government is heaped with allegations of corruptions in all spheres of governance and to which it is yet to come clean. 

“Therefore, this sudden raid at Marak’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Tura is but a cover up for all the misdeeds of the government for the past five years,” he alleged. 

Lyngdoh said there is more than that meets the eye to merely believe that the Home Minister and the police did not know about Marak’s activities even as he questioned what would the UDP have to say about this considering the home ministry is held by one of its senior members? 

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On the other hand, the Congress leader said that the allegations made by the accused BJP leader against Chief Minister that the raid was conducted to lent vent to frustrations over the prospects of defeat by the BJP in the South Tura seat must also be interpreted by looking at the bigger picture. 

“It is crystal clear that Chief Minister’s desperation is showing and he is now using the police to clean up his own mess,” he said.

“Will the Chief Minister be honest enough to tell the people of the State why it took him and the police so long to crackdown on the BJP leader? Is it true that he would have kept silent if the BJP had left the South Tura Constituency undisturbed in the NPP’s favour?” he said.

Lyngdoh further pointed out that there are 25 criminal cases pending against Marak which are all of a serious nature considering his former association with the militant outfit the Achik National Volunteer Council (B). 

He asked so what was the Chief Minster waiting for? For many more girls to become victims of flesh trade or get sexually abused by criminals? 

“The raid at the BJP leader’s  farmhouse in fact once again raises serious questions on the future of State under Chief Minister Sangma and his deputy Prestone Tynsong?  The case is a reflection of the complete failure of the government to check corruption and nefarious activities, be it about illegal coal mining, loot in other sectors like power, education and health and depriving the people of their right to growth, employment and quality human development or making the good reputation of the state intact,” Lyngdoh stated.