The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tura has issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against BJP vice president and MDC, Bernard N. Marak.
Bernard alias Rimpu, is accused of running a ‘brothel’ in Rimpu Bagan in Edenbari, Tura. Police believe that the farmhouse was the place where a minor girl had been raped repeatedly earlier this year.
Police had on July 22 raided Rimpu Bagan owned by Bernard and arrested 73 persons, including minors besides seizing liquor, vehicles and other documents.
A case was registered in Tura Women PS u/s 3/4/5/6/7 of Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Police wanted the accused to surrender before Sadar Police Station in Shillong but Bernard claimed he fears for his life and wanted to avoid a so-called fake encounter with the Meghalaya police.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer told the court that during the raid, the arrested persons were caught inside the rooms and in the premises of the Rimpu Bagan as couples. “Some of them were not husband and wife and one couple was found in an uncompromising manner and some of them came for liquor and to celebrate party inside the farm house,” the IO said.
The court was also told that during the course of investigation a 15-year old child in conflict with law was found along with her friend and co-friends and all five were arrested and are under five-day police custody. The minor was sent to the Observation Home (Girls) for two days.
It may be mentioned that authorities found large amounts of alcohol, hundreds of unused condoms and rescued five minors, including a minor girl, kept in “dingy” conditions at the Rimpu Bagan.
