TURA: Leaders of FKJGP, AYWO, ADE and GSU (Tengsak) student organizations have on Monday met with the West Garo Hills district administration and sought an inquiry into the running of an ‘illegal’ resort called Eden at Allotgre area of Tura by former ANVC-B chairman Bernard Rimpu N Marak.
A delegation comprising of FKJGP general secretary Raksrang Sangma, AYWO vice president Silkam Ch Marak, ADE vice president Sudeep Marak and GSU additional general secretary Balrang Momin submitted a petition to deputy commissioner Ram Singh seeking an investigation into the so-called resort which they said had become a den for nefarious activities.
“This resort is a den for illegal activities which is affecting a lot of youngsters, married couples and harassment of students even during exams, even during death of a person or event of sickness in the locality with customers of Eden blasting their car speakers through the night. There are a lot of illegal activities going on in Eden which is Rimpu’s illegal hosting place of free entertainment,” alleged the student organizations.
They informed the deputy commissioner that the resort had become a place for adultery, drinking, use and sale of narcotics and prostitution setting a bad influence for under-age party goers.
“Inside the Eden or Rimpu Bagan there is abetment to adultery as the place is used by his guests to commit adultery and fighting amongst couples is common. There also exists a prostitution ring inside the illegal resot with full knowledge of Rimpu Marak,” stated the student leaders.
They further pointed out that a huge racket in bootlegging is being encouraged by the ex-militant leader in his ‘resort’ through the sale of different types of alcohol and contraband drugs for which Rimpu is allegedly being paid a “commission”.
“How is he able to operate an illegal bar without any license and the resort is also being used as a homestay by couples without any permission from authorities?” questioned the student bodies as they accused the former ANVC-B chief of damaging the lives of many young boys and girls.
“It is such a place where fornication of underage youths take place freely,” they alleged.
Backing their claims about the misuse of the place by Bernard Rimpu, the student leaders brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner that the womenfolk of nearby Edenbari who had been fed up with the nuisance taking place at the resort have decided to patrol the roads near his illegal entertainment area.
“The citizens of Tura are concerned about the bad influence the resort is having on the youth of the area and the harm it is doing to married couples. Eden resort runs beyond the regulation of any regulatory body where even minors can buy alcohol and rent rooms and be free as adults,” said the student leaders as they demanded a thorough investigation about the legality of the resort run by the former militant group’s chairman.
Appreciating the people of Edenbari and its surrounding localities such as Rongkhon, Edenbari, Alotgre and Megonggre for their efforts to eradicate the ongoing social evils from their areas, the student bodies have expressed willingness to hold a public meeting to put an end to the illegal activities taking place at Rimpu’s Eden resort.