A day before Gambegre goes for the bye-election a FIR has been lodged against Boldamgre MDC Stevie Marak for alleged assault, intimidation and violation of Election Commission Rules.
The complaint was lodged by one Jostview D. Sangma who accused that the member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) of physically assaulting him on November 12 at Jembragre village.
Jostview alleged that Marak physically assaulted him, brandished a firearm in a threatening manner, and intimidated members of his locality, all while they were conducting neighborhood watch to safeguard the community from any attempts to bribe voters by representatives of political parties.
He also stated in the FIR that this incident not only involved physical aggression but also the use of a firearm to intimidate, which escalates the severity of the offense and puts public safety at risk.
According to the individual, as per the Election Commission’s guidelines, candidates, election agents, and party functionaries are strictly prohibited from holding any public meetings or engaging in door-to-door campaigning during the “silence period” starting from 4 pm on 11 November, 2024.
“Stevie Marak’s actions clearly violated these rules set forth by the Election Commission. Furthermore, under the Arms Act, all gun license holders are required to deposit their weapons at the jurisdictional police station before elections to prevent misuse. By retaining and brandishing his firearm during this prohibited period, Shri Marak has not only defied the laws established by the Election Commission but also breached the Arms Act regulations,” Jostview said.
He also urged authorities that his arms license should immediately be revoked, and appropriate legal action be taken to address these infringements.
