Police bust brothel on Meghalaya BJP leader's property, six rescued
The police in Meghalaya on Saturday reportedly busted a sex racket operating out of a building purportedly owned by Bernard N Marak, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state vice-president, in Tura. According to a senior police officer, 73 people were also arrested from the alleged brothel. Marak, however, disputed the allegations and accused Chief Minister (CM) Conrad Sangma of targeting him.
Why does this story matter?
Marak, an elected representative of the Garo Tribal Autonomous District Council, criticized CM Conrad Sangma for the raid at his farmhouse and denied allegations of running a brothel. "The CM is getting desperate...he knows he's losing his South Tura seat to the BJP," he claimed. The BJP is a constituent of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, which is led by Sangma's National People's Party (NPP).
Police statement over the issue
A raid was conducted at Rimpu Bagan, a farmhouse belonging to rebel-turned-politician Marak, based on a tip-off regarding the sex racket, West Garo Hills district's SP Vivekananda Singh Rathore told Hindustan Times. "We have rescued six minors—four boys and two girls—who were...locked inside dingy cabin-like unhygienic rooms at Rimpu Bagan, run by Bernard N Marak...as a brothel, for the purpose of prostitution," Singh stated.
73 people arrested, 400 bottles of liquor found: SP
Cops seized 27 vehicles, eight two-wheelers, approximately 400 bottles of liquor, more than 500 unused condoms, and crossbows and arrows in the raid, as per the senior officer. All of the children were handed over to the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for safekeeping and further legal action. During the raid at the 30-room farmhouse, 73 people were arrested for "nefarious activity," Singh noted.
Marak verbally instructed to surrender: Police
The police reportedly discovered several young men and women naked and drinking during the raid. All 68 of them were arrested, according to Singh, who also added the property's manager, caretaker, and three employees were arrested, too. According to Singh, the principal accused, Marak, has been verbally instructed to cooperate with the investigation and to surrender promptly to the Shillong Sadar Police Station.
Urge Marak to surrender at the earliest: SP
Singh further stated, "He (Marak) has not cooperated and is evading arrest till now. The search operation is continuing. The senior officer added, "I urge him to surrender at the earliest and not make it difficult for himself... We will find him and arrest him."
A girl was sexually assaulted at the property
A minor girl is also suspected of having been sexually assaulted at the same property, as per a complaint filed in February. The girl's relatives tracked her down to Rimpu Bagan, said Singh. "The minor was sexually assaulted multiple times...and a case was registered under IPC Sections 366A (procuration of minor girl), 376 (punishment for rape), and sections of the POCSO Act," Singh stated.
Over 25 complaints filed against Marak
Since the early 2000s, over 25 criminal complaints have been filed against Marak, including the February case under the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act. He is a former self-proclaimed leader of the defunct militant group Achik National Voluntary Council (B), said Singh. However, Marak claimed, "The raid at my farmhouse is a desperate attempt by him (Sangma) to malign my image and a political vendetta."
