A social activist from Garo Hills has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against North Garo Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Bruno A. Sangma and urged for his removal from the district.
In a complaint filed yesterday, Nilberth Ch. Marak said that the model code of conduct is in force from March 16 which is the date of the announcement of schedule for the Lok Sabha election.
“However, it is learnt from the reliable source that the above mentioned SP have invited the chief minister and others to his personal residence which amounts to election meeting and such act of the SP amounts to violation of the model code of conduct declared by the Chief Election Commissioner of India on 16.03.2024,” Marak said.
According to Marak, Para-3 (1)(a) of the letter dated March 16, 2024 issued by Senior Principal Secretary from the Election Commission of India stated that “The ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work”.
Marak said that Bruno A. Sangma is a close relative of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma as he is married to the younger sister of the husband of NPP candidate Agatha Sangma. The complaint also said that Kharkutta under North Garo Hills is Bruno’s native place and also the hometown of his wife.
“Therefore, as a police officer he can influence the voters and indirectly campaign in favour of NPP candidate Agatha K. Sangma. Therefore, Bruno A. Sangma should be immediately transferred from Resubelpara to some other districts of Garo Hills,” Marak added.
Marak also said that the public at large had been lodging their verbal complaint to Bruno A. Sangma and requested him to conduct the inquiry and also to check the trucks and vehicles carrying sugar, onions, betel nuts and other eatable goods exporting to Bangladesh to ascertain and verify whether the goods carrying and transporting to neighboring Bangladeshi are having proper document or having the proper license or permission to export to the foreign countries like Bangladesh.
“But the concerned SP has ignored the matter and has not responded to the complaint lodged by the general public. Resubelpara in North Garo Hills is situated at the border between Assam and Meghalaya and it is also the entry road to enter into Meghalaya from Assam, Therefore, Resubelpara is the entry and exit point whereby the Police Department or custom officers can check the illegal exportation and illegal import of goods. However, the above-mentioned SP had been allowing the ongoing illegal exportation of goods to pass through his jurisdiction and to travel throughout the entire Garo Hills and allowing them to enter Bangladesh through the Gasuapara border of South Garo Hills,” Marak said.