SHILLONG: The mother of Solly Sangma, who was arrested for having links with GNLA, has alleged that his son was framed by the police for filing an FIR against a police official.
Solly and another GNLA cadre Johny Marak were picked up from Tura Jail on November 24 in connection with threat messages which were sent through a mobile phone targeting a police officer in East Khasi Hills.
Solly’s mother told reporters on Monday that his son is not a GNLA cadre and he was suspected of being one as he coincidentally shared a cell at Tura District Jail with Johny Marak, a suspected GNLA militant.
After the arrest of Solly, he was first lodged at Mawlai police station and subsequently lodged at Laban police station.
His family members said that Solly was put in a lock up at Laban police station which was unhygienic and alleged that Solly was implicated by the police since he had filed an FIR in Tura on May 1 this year which was transferred to Phulbari police station against one Jesty A Sangma, a close relative of Additional SP West Garo Hills Bruno Sangma.
Solly had also filed a complaint with NHRC in May this year against Bruno A Sangma,
According to East Khasi Hills police, it was on October 13 that a post was made by Salgro Areng on Face Book ‘Meg Pol V/s public’ on behalf of rebel group GNLA, threatening to kill one of the police officer of East Khasi Hills district and his family as the officer was involved in operational duties. Police ascertained that the threat was uploaded from Tura District Jail.
A search warrant was issued by the District Court Shillong and on November 24, a police team from Shillong along with Tura police conducted a search at the jail but did not find anything to arouse their suspicion.
However, the Shillong police later learnt from the jail authorities that on November 21, a search was conducted by them and they recovered five mobile sets, one of which was used for sending the threat message through Facebook.
According to police, the persons sending the messages were Solly Sangma and Johny A. Marak but did not make it clear as to who owned the cell phone.
After Solly’s mother sought the help of CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing, a letter was sent to Meghalaya DGP PJP Hanaman by Kharshiing on Monday to uphold the right to life of a person in custody by providing clean and hygienic conditions in all police stations across the state.