Shillong, Jan 30: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has recommended compensation of Rs 50,000 each to 15 individuals who had alleged harassment by police when they were caught up in the Rimpu Bagan incident of 2022.
Thirty people who were detained by police during the raid on Rimpu Bagan, a farmhouse owned by Tura MDC Bernard Marak, in July 2022 accused police of grave harassment and intimidation, including a warning not to vote for the BJP member at the next election. The raid led to the arrest of Marak on various charges as the police claimed that the property was being used as a brothel. Arms were also found on another property of the MDC’s.
In a press release issued today, the MHRC said that 15 complainants withdrew their cases against the police. An inquiry was conducted regarding the allegations made by the remaining 15 and, after hearing evidence from both parties, the Commission passed its final order on Thursday wherein it recommended that the state government pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the complainants “for violation of human rights”.
Under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 the MHRC can only recommend compensation rather than direct or enforce it, however.
