Tag: Bernard Marak

  • Bernard Marak case: BJP says Meghalaya Governor has promised ‘independent’ probe

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The BJP in Meghalaya said Governor Satya Pal Malik had promised an “independent” probe into the case of its arrested state vice president Bernard Marak.

    The police had accused the militant-turned-politician Marak of running a “brothel” from his farmhouse at Tura in West Garo Hills district.

    A delegation of state BJP leaders met Malik on Monday and submitted a memorandum to him.

    BJP’s Meghalaya president Ernest Mawrie said the governor promised that an independent inquiry committee would be constituted. The BJP delegation told Malik party leaders and workers were being “harassed” as part of a “political vendetta”.

    ALSO READ | Five kids rescued, 73 arrested from Meghalaya BJP leader’s farmhouse run as ‘brothel’: Police

    It also lodged a complaint with him alleging the state government denied permission to the party to hold a peace rally in Tura and Shillong.

    Mawrie said he would meet Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and insist on an independent probe. The BJP is also demanding the removal of the SP and the DM of West Garo Hills to ensure a free and fair inquiry.

    “For the first time, Meghalaya is witnessing political vendetta. We fear this will set a politically-vindictive trend in our state,” Mawrie said.

    The BJP sniffed the hand of its ally National People’s Party (NPP) in the events leading up to Marak’s arrest. The BJP and the NPP, which Sangma heads, are allies and constituents of the state’s coalition government.

    Asked if the BJP will withdraw its support to the government, Mawrie said the party’s central leaders would take a call. He said the details on the raid at Marak’s farmhouse and events that followed had been shared with them.

    Marak was arrested in Uttar Pradesh by the police of that state and brought to Meghalaya last Wednesday. He was produced in a local court the same day and it sent him to eight days’ police remand.

    GUWAHATI: The BJP in Meghalaya said Governor Satya Pal Malik had promised an “independent” probe into the case of its arrested state vice president Bernard Marak.

    The police had accused the militant-turned-politician Marak of running a “brothel” from his farmhouse at Tura in West Garo Hills district.

    A delegation of state BJP leaders met Malik on Monday and submitted a memorandum to him.

    BJP’s Meghalaya president Ernest Mawrie said the governor promised that an independent inquiry committee would be constituted. The BJP delegation told Malik party leaders and workers were being “harassed” as part of a “political vendetta”.

    ALSO READ | Five kids rescued, 73 arrested from Meghalaya BJP leader’s farmhouse run as ‘brothel’: Police

    It also lodged a complaint with him alleging the state government denied permission to the party to hold a peace rally in Tura and Shillong.

    Mawrie said he would meet Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and insist on an independent probe. The BJP is also demanding the removal of the SP and the DM of West Garo Hills to ensure a free and fair inquiry.

    “For the first time, Meghalaya is witnessing political vendetta. We fear this will set a politically-vindictive trend in our state,” Mawrie said.

    The BJP sniffed the hand of its ally National People’s Party (NPP) in the events leading up to Marak’s arrest. The BJP and the NPP, which Sangma heads, are allies and constituents of the state’s coalition government.

    Asked if the BJP will withdraw its support to the government, Mawrie said the party’s central leaders would take a call. He said the details on the raid at Marak’s farmhouse and events that followed had been shared with them.

    Marak was arrested in Uttar Pradesh by the police of that state and brought to Meghalaya last Wednesday. He was produced in a local court the same day and it sent him to eight days’ police remand.

  • Now, explosives recovered from arrested Meghalaya BJP leader’s farmhouse

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Meghalaya Police on Thursday recovered explosive materials from the farmhouse of arrested state BJP vice president Bernard Marak.

    The items recovered included 35 gelatin sticks, 100 detonators, four cross bows and 15 arrows.

    The farmhouse is located at Tura in the West Garo Hills district. The police had recovered 400 bottles of liquor and 500 packets of condom and contraceptive tablets among others during a raid at the private property last week. Five children were also rescued.

    Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Singh said a team of the district child protection unit and the police had gone to the farmhouse on Thursday to collect clothes and books of the rescued children.

    “During this exercise, they found one small door-like structure. When this door was broken open, the explosives and other weapons were recovered,” Singh told The New Indian Express.

    He also said that charges would be added under the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 against Marak.

    He said medical reports suggested one of the rescued children was sexually assaulted. The police registered a fresh FIR under POCSO Act following this revelation.

    Meanwhile, Marak, who was arrested in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, was brought to Tura on Thursday. The militant leader-turned-politician is a member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

    GUWAHATI: Meghalaya Police on Thursday recovered explosive materials from the farmhouse of arrested state BJP vice president Bernard Marak.

    The items recovered included 35 gelatin sticks, 100 detonators, four cross bows and 15 arrows.

    The farmhouse is located at Tura in the West Garo Hills district. The police had recovered 400 bottles of liquor and 500 packets of condom and contraceptive tablets among others during a raid at the private property last week. Five children were also rescued.

    Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Singh said a team of the district child protection unit and the police had gone to the farmhouse on Thursday to collect clothes and books of the rescued children.

    “During this exercise, they found one small door-like structure. When this door was broken open, the explosives and other weapons were recovered,” Singh told The New Indian Express.

    He also said that charges would be added under the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 against Marak.

    He said medical reports suggested one of the rescued children was sexually assaulted. The police registered a fresh FIR under POCSO Act following this revelation.

    Meanwhile, Marak, who was arrested in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, was brought to Tura on Thursday. The militant leader-turned-politician is a member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.