Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has rubbished accusations of harassment made by the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP leaders and party workers recently staged a protest condemning the police for allegedly harassing party workers while investigating state BJP vice-president and Tura MDC Bernard Marak’s case. Marak is accused of running a brothel at his farmhouse in Tura and is currently in police custody. The party’s state leadership has claimed that the case against Marak is due to a political vendetta as he is a frequent critic of the state government and is planning to contest against the Chief Minister at next year’s state elections.
The BJP has also demanded an independent probe and the removal of West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Singh Rathore and Deputy Commissioner Swapnil Tembe, who the party claims are biased against the BJP.
Yesterday, Rathore had denied that Marak had been framed, saying that plenty of evidence had been collected in front of witnesses and government officials.
Today, Rymbui said that the police have conducted themselves according to procedure and that there is no harassment as far as he can tell. He also said that the BJP demand for the removal of the SP and DC is illogical as they are only doing their job. The minister added, however, that any officer who does something against the law will face action.
On the allegation that the case against Marak is politically motivated, Rymbui stated that investigations are ongoing and updates are made as and when there are developments. The district administration has also ordered for a magisterial inquiry.
“I hope the truth prevails. For now, we have to wait and I can’t say much as the case is being investigated,” he said.
