SHILLONG:
The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on July 24, came out in support of its vice president, Bernard N Marak and urged the government to drop all charges against him.
“It is obvious that these allegations have been made to tarnish the image of BJP and state vice president and convener of Garo Hills, Bernard Marak, due to his growing popularity in Garo Hills specifically Tura South,” said Mawrie.
He also pointed out that a day before the raid was carried out, National People’s Party (NPP) workers were seen pasting posters all over Tura maligning Marak. “It is also very clear that it is a political vendetta as Marak’s mother’s house too was raided without any warrant. This is pure harassment,” Mawrie stated.
The BJP president said that the building in which the raid took place is a three-storey establishment with the ground floor being used as a banquet hall and was rented out for the stated purpose. The first floor comprises of 30 rooms which are used as homestays while the second floor is used as a hostel for underprivileged children from different areas of Garo Hills, Mawrie clarified.
Earlier on July 23, the West Garo Hills police had claimed to have busted a prostitution racket in the farmhouse and arrested 73 persons and rescue of five children besides seizure of liquors and unused contraceptives.
Mawrie, however, claimed that the rescued children have been in the establishment staying since the pandemic and Marak has been supporting them financially. “From amongst the children who were taken by the police, five are minors who are supported by Marak and studying in Edenbari School and Auxilium Convent School in Tura,” said Mawrie.
Mawrie also claimed that wife and child of the farmhouse’s caretaker were also taken away by the police and a married couple, who run a fast food in the premises, was also detained.
“According to the information I have, the people arrested from the farmhouse were guests who had paid for their stay. Likewise, the vehicles confiscated by the police on the same evening belonged to these guests. The general public of Tura would often visit this resort during the weekends for picnics and also stay over,” he said.
He further claimed that the guests staying at the resort come from respectable families and branding the resort a “brothel” is highly objectionable and unacceptable.
Urging the government to protect the party’s vice president’s life, Mawrie informed that Marak had informed him that he is fearful for life. “Marak told me that he is fearful for his life. I request the government to protect him and also withdraw all charges against him because all of those are politically motivated to malign the party’s image,” he said.
The police had also asked Bernard, who is also a former chairman of the disbanded Achik National Volunteer Council – Breakaway (ANVC.B), not to abscond but to cooperate and report to Shillong Sadar police station.