By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 21: The NPP on Saturday published the criminal antecedents of three of its candidates, including Ampareen Lyngdoh of East Shillong, Teiborlang Pathaw of Mawlai and Thomas Sangma of North Tura.
As required by law, the criminal antecedents will have to be widely publicised among voters and also the concerned party will have to justify why a candidate having criminal antecedents should be given a party ticket.
The declaration of NPP states that former education minister Ampareen Lyngdoh is alleged to have committed criminal offences under Section 120-B, 420,467,468, 471,201 of IPC, besides Section 13 (2) of PC Act.
The declaration said that charges have not been framed against her.
According to the party, the reason for selection of this candidate is that she has devoted a huge amount of time and effort in social service and is well-respected in public life. Therefore, in the assessment of the party, the candidate is suitable for election to espouse the cause of the public.
On the query of reasons as to why other individuals without criminal antecedent could not be selected as candidate, the party said that it is imperative to state that the offences alleged to have been committed by the candidate are yet to be proved in a court of law.
The party added that the trial to prove the innocence of the candidate is currently ongoing before a judicial court and it is important to state that until such court has sufficiently ruled otherwise, the candidate is deemed innocent.
It may be recalled that The CBI in 2020 had filed a charge sheet against three individuals, including Ampareen Lyngdoh, for their alleged involvement in the education scam.
As for NPP’s Mawlai candidate Teiborlang Pathaw, who is a sitting MDC, the nature of criminal offence alleged to have been committed by the candidate are Section 420/406 of IPC.
The party says that the candidate has been a champion of the poor and has worked relentlessly for the uplift of the people of the area.
The party’s declaration also states that the offences alleged to have been committed by the candidate are yet to be proved in a court of law and he is entitled to presumption of innocence. Further, considering the immense hardwork and dedication of the candidate, it was deemed sufficient for the party not to choose any other candidate since it does not find any unsuitability in the candidate.
Another NPP candidate from North Tura Thomas Sangma is alleged to have committed criminal offences under section 376 (n) r/w section 506 of IPC. In this case, too, charges have not been framed.
According to the party, the case registered against him is recent and a standalone instance in an otherwise unblemished career in public life.
Considering the immense hard work and devotion displayed by him to the people of his constituency, it was deemed sufficient for the party not to choose any other candidate.
It may be recalled that last year, Thomas Sangma, sitting MLA from the National People’s Party (NPP), was accused of rape and an FIR was filed in this regard.
As per the Election Commission, all political parties and candidates will have to publish criminal antecedents of their candidates at least three times in newspapers, television channels and on their websites as people must know the background of all candidates before they cast their vote.