CJM summons Deborah, Tennydard on Nov 14
SHILLONG: The independent candidate from Williamnagar Jonathone N Sangma, who had filed FIR against Cabinet Minister Deborah Marak recently wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi, seeking a reply on whether any action has been initiated on his complaint regarding “grievous violations of the election code of conduct and criminal intimidation designed to divert votes,” which are expected to be cast in his favour.
It was on September 1 this year that Jonathone had written to the Chief Election Commissioner to know whether any action was initiated regarding his complaint.
That the CEC has remained silent on his complaint is curious. Incidentally, Jonathone has not made a formal complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Williamnagar, has already issued summons to Deborah Marak and Tennydard Marak on the charge-sheet filed by Superintendent of Police, East Garo Hills recently. The question that arises is whether an accused person can still hold the post of a Minister or MLA.
On January 31, 2014, Jonathone filed the first FIR to the Officer in Charge Williamnagar Police Station (with a copy to the Chief Election Commissioner, Delhi) stating that at about 6.30 pm that day while he along with his supporters were having a public meeting at Village Dawa Songgitalgre, suddenly there was blank firing for about 10 minutes at a distance of about 50 metres from the meeting place as a result of which the public panicked and ran away. Jonathone had said that the incident was a “severe threat to holding free and fair election in the district.”
Jonathone also mentioned in the FIR that in another glaring incident, a threatening letter was issued by the GNLA on their letter pad and with their signature directing the voters not to work for him. A photocopy of the letter was submitted along with the FIR.
This was followed by another letter also on the GNLA letter head directing the voters of Williamnagar not to vote for Jonathone and Marcuise Marak (NPP candidate). The handwriting on both the letters were similar. The person who delivered the letter specifically asked the people to vote for Deborah Marak.
Jonathone had at the time sought a high-level enquiry into the matter. What raises many unpalatable questions at this juncture is whether a timely enquiry was conducted or special security provided to Williamnagar constituency on voting day or whether the vulnerable polling stations were fully secured on the day.
It is also curious as to how the election observers never had a whiff of all these incidents of intimidation. Or is it a case of turning a deaf ear and blind eye so long as the election procedure was completed because anything other than that would mean more work for the Election Commission?
Speaking to this correspondent, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer, P. Naik, said that he had never received (Contd in P-10)
CEC yet to reply…
(Contd from P-3) any formal complaint from Jonathone and neither the office of the Chief Election Commission sent him a copy of the complaint letter for necessary action.
On February 16, 2013, Jonathone filed a second FIR with the Williamnagar Police Station stating that on the night of February 15, huge numbers of pamphlets threatening voters not to vote for him were distributed at different paces in and around Williamnagar. Copies of the pamphlets were submitted to the police as evidence. Each time, copies of the FIR were sent to the Deputy Commissioner East Garo Hills and the SP of the district.
It has taken 20 months for the police to file their charge sheet on this case. And the Election Commission of India has not even taken cognizance of the matter. Some of Jonathone’s supporters wondered if Meghalaya could claim that a free and fair Assembly election was held in 2013 and whether the Chief Election Commission even bothered to take a view on the matter.
Regarding the FIR of February 16 based on which the charge-sheet was filed against Deborah, the Chief Electoral Officer said that the copy of the FIR was not marked to him.
“I have seen the FIR now. It was not marked to the CEO though it was marked to the Deputy Commissioner, East Garo Hills. The FIR is general in nature and vague as no names were mentioned,” Naik said, adding that the copy of the FIR lodged on January 31 last year was also not marked to the CEO.