By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Heavily armed cadres of the breakaway faction of ANVC on Saturday attacked Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president Deborah Marak following an altercation over holding of a public meeting at Rongbinggre across Simsang river in East Garo Hills.
According to the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vijay Mantri, the suspected ANVC(B) cadres first had a series of argument with Marak, who went to attend the meeting. The ANVC(B) cadres even gheraoed her at the venue of the meeting.
After the exchange of words and intimidation, the militants fired in the air at around 5.pm which created panic compelling the people and Marak to run helter-skelter.
She sustained serious injuries on her knees when she fell down while running for safety. Several villagers were injured in the melee.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed report said Marak, who went to distribute the prizes of a football tournament, was chased by the ANVC(B) cadres. They also caught her hands. The militants even threatened to kill her, sources added.
The militants questioned her why she was holding a public meeting without the permission of the ANVC (B), unconfirmed sources added. Though the exact reason behind Saturday’s incident is yet to be known, the intimidation of the militant group assumes significance in the aftermath of the statement of its chairman Rimpu N Marak that the Mukul Sangm-led Government failed to bring development to the people of Garo Hills. Police, however, is also ascertaining whether the ANVC(B) in the past had demanded money from Marak. Family sources, however, denied receiving any extortion notice from the outfit in the past. According to sources, the election campaign was in an interior village across Simsang river and she did not take any security since the villagers were known to her. Marak a former Deputy Chief Minister, is contesting on a Congress ticket from Williamnagar in the upcoming Assembly elections. The family sources said, Marak, who spent the night at Williamnagar, will come to Shillong on Sunday. “Her injury needs urgent treatment,” sources added.