TURA, Aug 5: Tura MDC and BJP vice president Bernard Marak’s remand under police custody has been extended for another six days following a request by the West Garo Hills Police for an extension.
Police had earlier sought a 14-day police remand of the arrested BJP leader to which the Sessions Court had acceded to eight days. However, police sources claimed earlier this afternoon that they would seek another six days of custody which was granted to by the Court this evening after another long round of deliberations.
Bernard was taken this afternoon by the police after his eight-day remand ended and produced in Court on Friday.
His contingent of supporters and family members were present in both the police station as well as the Court to show their support for the incarcerated leader of the BJP. Earlier on July 22, a farmhouse belonging to Marak had been raided on the outskirts of the town of Tura at Edenbari from where police apparently rescued at least five children while also arresting a total of 73 persons from the premises which the police suspected to being a front for illegal flesh trade that was being led by the MDC himself.
A lookout notice for Marak had been issued after he refused to surrender following which he was arrested from the district of Hapur in Uttar Pradesh before being brought to Tura where further charges of illegal explosives and another case of a minor in the same farmhouse being sexually exploited were added by the Tura Police following an investigation. The Court had then acceded to eight days of police custody to the 14-day demand by the WGH Police.
The BJP has maintained that the incarceration of the Tura MDC was a case of political vendetta by the NPP and its leader, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, with the party demanding the removal of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police for a fair probe to be made possible. The request was sent to the Governor, Satya Pal Malik after a protest by the BJP state leaders and members last week. However, there has been information of any such moves currently being entertained by the Governor or the state government.
Both Bernard and the CM are expected to fight against each other for the South Tura constituency which goes into election mode in the coming months.
