• NET Web Desk

The Meghalaya Assembly’s committee for women empowerment sought a report from the Social Welfare Department on the status of five minors, rescued during the recent police raid at the farmhouse of BJP leader – Bernard Marak.

Addressing the mediapersons, the Assembly committee’s chairperson – Ampareen Lyngdoh noted that the Social Welfare Department has been asked to submit a report by August 8.

“We have asked the Department of Social Welfare to provide a report on the condition of the children who were allegedly the victims of criminal activity at the farmhouse,” – stated Lyngdoh.

Meanwhile, the East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) informed the committee that 26 crimes against women and children, including those that fall under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, were registered in the district since January.

The Committee has also discussed other matters, such as – high rate of teenage pregnancies in Meghalaya and the drug menace.

Its worthy to note that recently, the Meghalaya Police raided the farmhouse and rescued six minors – four boys and two girls.

This farmhouse, named as ‘Rimpu Bagan’ was owned by the Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Meghalaya Unit – Bernard N Marak.

According to police reports, nearly six children were rescued, while 73 people been engaged with such “nefarious acts” were also apprehended from the farmhouse.

“They were found locked inside dingy cabin-like unhygienic rooms at Rimpu Bagan run by Bernard N Marak and his accomplices as a ‘brothel’ for the purpose of prostitution,” – informed the SP, West Garo Hills district.

During the raid, nearly 400 bottles of liquor and over 500 unused condoms were also impounded from the farmhouse, which incorporated of 30 small rooms.

It is suspected to be the place where a girl was sexually assaulted, and a case was filed in that regard in February 2022.

As per reports, the security personnel failed to nab the politician by a whisker, as Bernard quietly boarded a Delhi-bound flight from Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport on Saturday evening.

In order to nab the offender, a non-bailable warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Marak; accused of operating a ‘brothel’ and engaging with “nefarious acts”.

Marak, an elected member of the Garo Tribal Autonomous District Council, in a statement however, attacked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for the raid, and denied the allegations of running a “brothel”.

“The CM is getting desperate as he knows he is losing his South Tura seat to the BJP. The raid at my farmhouse is a desperate attempt by him to malign my image and a political vendetta,” he claimed.