Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang was today shoved by police personnel as he and VPP general secretary Ricky Syngkon tried to push their way into the State secretariat to stage a protest against the removal of three State Lokayukta officials.
VPP leaders waited for hours from 10 am before trying to push through police barricades, resulting in a scuffle.
Marbaniang, Syngkon and North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum while on their way to the secretariat to protest were confronted outside the DC’s office.
A scuffle ensued between Marbaniang and police personnel as he tried to force his way to the secretariat.
The police personnel who masked up their faces pushed and shoved Marbaniang and prevented him from walking to the protest site.
VPP members present at the spot shouted at the policemen. “He is an MLA. You can’t just manhandle him like that,” they told the masked policemen.
A verbal duel was also witnessed between Marbaniang and a lady magistrate who tried to stop him from proceeding towards the secretariat.
Later, Marbaniang while speaking to media persons questioned the deployment of police personnel who were masked and without nameplates.
“Masking your face and having no nameplate is not acceptable for a policeman on duty. Nobody can be sure if these masked men belong to the police or not?” he said.
Marbaniang also said the VPP would continue with its war on corruption and also against wasteful expenditure on political appointees by the MDA government.