The Meghalayan Bureau
TURA/SHILLONG:
After being on the run for four days despite a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him, wanted state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president, Bernard Marak, was finally arrested while trying to flee to Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, the BJP member of district council of Tura, was arrested after the police of the BJP-ruled state intercepted a taxi he was travelling in, at Hapur city of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday evening ending a countrywide lookout for the saffron leader whose farmhouse in Tura was raided on Friday last leading to arrest of 69 revellers and rescue of six minors.
“He (Rimpu) was detained at Hapur in Uttar Pradesh and we are sending a police team to bring him back to the state,” informed West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh Rathore to The Meghalayan.
Hapur city, the headquarters of Hapur district in Uttar Pradesh, is located 60 km east of New Delhi and falls in the National Capital Region (NCR).
On how the police succeeded on tracing the absconding politician in a faraway state like UP, Rathore said, “We had been working on his whereabouts and caught him as he was moving in a taxi. He was alone.” Rathor further informed that after the arrest, the BJP leader tried to make an issue of his detention and was throwing “tantrums “.
Chief minister Conrad Sangma, while speaking to the press post a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, too confirmed the development.
“The DGP had called me saying that the concerned individual has been picked up and now he will be brought to Tura,” said the chief minister.
Marak’s arrest comes hours after the West Garo Hills police issued a lookout notice to all police stations across all states and Union Territories to trace him.
Earlier in the day, the lookout notice, under sections of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956, was issued by the Meghalaya police in connection with a case of sex trafficking that occurred at the MDC’s farmhouse where a minor girl was allegedly, repeatedly raped by a man in the month of February, this year.
In a letter to the Special Superintendent of Police (CID), West Garo Hills SP Vivekanand Singh Rathore said, “In this regard, it is hereby requested to kindly circulate the same to all the police stations of all states of India and Union Territories to trace out the said accused persons.”
Earlier on July 25, a local court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Marak, who is also former chairman of the disbanded Achik National Volunteer Council – Breakaway (ANVC.B).
“It is also to be informed that the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tura, has already issued a non-bailable arrest against Marak,” said Rathor.
Earlier, the BJP state vice president had categorically denied running a “brothel” at his farmhouse, Rimpu Bagan, and alleged that the police raid was staged since BJP is growing from strength to strength in Garo Hills region.
Bernard had 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”.
Earlier on July 23, the West Garo Hills police had claimed to have busted a prostitution racket in the BJP MDC’s farmhouse which led to the arrest of 73 persons and rescue of 5 children besides seizure of liquors and unused contraceptives.
Meanwhile, the Assembly’s Committee on Women Empowerment, asserting the need to segregate between politics and crime, had sought detailed report into the incident.
“Don’t confuse the politics and the crime that has occurred. Segregate these two things. You may have your political battles but you have no business engaging in anything with minor children and girl children,” chairperson of the committee, Ampareen Lyngdoh had said, assuring that she would find out the truth and take action accordingly.