SHILLONG: Several cases of bribery and poll-related violence before the Assembly elections on Tuesday have been reported, especially from East Jaintia Hills district.
On February 27 around 1.30 pm, police received information that some people were distributing cash at Diengsomoud village under Umroi constituency in Ri Bhoi. Police rushed to the spot and conducted checking on vehicles and searched the surrounding areas to find Rs 24,110 from a nearby jungle.
In another case, Mondlingstar Pdang, Sector Officer-3 of Khliehriat constituency lodged a complaint that around 9.30 pm on February 26, after returning home from election duty at Sutnga village, his nephew informed him that some people have taken away their voters’ slips.
Following this, the complainant along with his friend Phrawa-O Lamurong left his residence in one private vehicle (ML-04A-4779).
Later, when the complainant returned from his nephew’s house, 12 persons namely Bhalang Patlong, Anthony Pala, Dunidaibunki Rupsi, Kerlang Patlong, Ailad Sutnga, Pynbait Sutnga, Fortuinate Chyrmang, a government servant, Riping Suja, Wowni Pala, Last Bamon, Bantei Bamon and Rightful Chyrmang, stopped his vehicle, assaulted his friend and when the complainant asked about the reason, they attacked him too with wooden sticks and knife and threatened him with dire consequences. The complainant had sustained injuries. On the other hand, Neini Bareh, president of VDP Sutnga, lodged a complaint that around 9.15 pm on February 26, VDP members on duty witnessed Memong Pdang, SDO (PWD) Sutnga, Phrawa-O Lamurong, SA (PWD) Sutnga, Sawan Nongtdu and Fullmoon Supooh, who are government employees, along with Forgive Dkhar, Sanki Dkhar, Sanki Lamurong, Unkyrkhu Supooh and Kampher Sutnga went for distribution of cash to voters in the village.
The VDP members detained one vehicle (ML-04A-4779) and recovered cash and some lethal weapons. However, when the VDP members attempted to apprehend them, they assaulted one of the VDP members Duni Sutnga and fled leaving behind their vehicle.
A similar complaint was lodged by Roitre Dkhar and B. Phawa, Secretary, Shnong and VDP member of Iongkaluh village (East Jaintia Hills), respectively, lodged a complaint that on February 25 around 11.30 pm, Amos Dkhar and others went to the village in their Maruti Alto-800 ML-05M-4394 for distribution of money so that votes come in favour of the BJP candidate from Sutnga-Saipung constituency and also threatened the villagers with dire consequences.On receiving of the information, VDP members went to the place and found that they were distributing money and Amos Dkhar instructed his accomplices to assault the VDP members but they managed to escape. Later, the villagers informed them that the accused damaged the vehicle and blamed the VDP and the villagers for the damage.
