TURA, July 27: In a sensational new development, a source from amongst the pressure group that went to the CM’s Secretariat in Tura for the meeting on Monday, revealed that they had no clue about the antecedents of the person sitting at the meeting venue in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, his cabinet colleague Marcuise Marak and other highly-placed government officers.
The unknown person has been identified as Jackson A. Sangma, a resident of Nikwatgre, Dakopgre in the town of Tura. He is allegedly a hardcore member of the NPP though the party recently denied that he was their members.
The meeting started at about 3pm when the agitating leaders were called into the office of the CM for a chat and the marathon meeting lasted for close to three hours. However the presence of Jackson amongst those present pricked the source. “We had no idea as to who he was or why he was allowed entry. He was present there even before we arrived. We all had to sign into the register when we entered. When we checked later, there was no entry for Jackson in the register. This immediately caught our attention,” said the source.
Jackson was seated right at the back of the NGO delegation and was there for at least halfway through the meeting.
“I noticed him leaving the meeting but didn’t pay attention as we were engrossed with the meeting itself. We first thought he was a part of the CM’s security detail,” said the source.
After being called by the NGOs to listen to the CM, a huge crowd of people had gathered at the venue. They initially were patient but soon began to lose their temper due to the delay in the conclusion of the meeting.
ACHIK leader, Laben Marak was asked to meet the agitators to calm them but they were unwilling to listen to him.
As to what really transpired is still a matter of speculation and an ongoing investigation. However Jackson, as was evident from the various videos that have gone viral on social media, was one of the prime instigators. Further another video of Jackson prior to him even going to the meeting has now gone viral.
What followed after the crowd lost their temper is now well known. He was also seen in the post-violence scene where he spoke of how he told people that nothing would come off the meeting with the CM.
Jackson’s role in the entire mob violence has come of prominence as has been his links. As to how he was able to get into a meeting that had such stringent security checks, another source said that Jackson even had food while inside. As to how he was able to get inside a highly0secured room and not even be registered as an entrant remains a mystery.
“His presence in the meeting is questionable to say the least as he was one of the principal instigators of the violence that followed. Being a commoner there was no way he could have just sneaked into such a high security meeting unless he was put there and that too before us. Given that his acts of instigation led to the violence that day, needs to be checked independently,” added the source.
A total of 42 persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including prominent social activist Jaynie Ningring N Sangma, TMC leader Richard Marak, ACHIK member Greneth Sangma, AAYF president Salsam Marak, and some ex-GNLA members. Almost all of them were identified by the police as being either of the TMC or BJP though there is still no clarity on how they were recognized as being members of these parties.
Jackson’s name bore no party membership though earlier he was identified as a hardcore NPP worker.
TMC youth leader, Richard Marak, who was arrested on Jul 25 again on the same charges fell ill on Wednesday and was taken to the emergency care at the Tura Civil Hospital.
BJP leader Bernard Marak, whose name also figures in the FIR, has managed to secure bail having preempted the move of the government to file another series of cases against him.
