Impersonator a budding politician
13 men sent to judicial custody
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 6: Mebanshem Snaitang, who was arrested while driving in the city with his “bodyguards”, armed with air guns, masquerading as law enforcement personnel, reportedly attempted to pull off an intimidation stunt to make people believe that he is an important personality with authority and power, police sources said on Saturday.
On Friday afternoon, three vehicles donning tinted glasses were found parked outside the Secretariat in the city — one of the vehicles did not have a registration plate. During inspection, police found 12 men all dressed in black onboard the vehicles. Smelling a rat, the police took control of the situation, taking the 12 conspicuous men and Snaitang to Sadar Police Station and seizing the air guns and other items in their possession.
Snaitang was also booked under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act for using tinted glasses on his vehicles. The Act requires a minimum of 70 per cent Visual Light Transmission (VLT) through the front and rear windshields.
Interestingly, it was learnt that Snaitang is a budding politician looking to contest the next Assembly elections. Police department sources have revealed that he wants to contest the 2028 elections from Mawhati.
It was also learnt that the main accused is one of the three directors of a firm, Umsyiem Private Limited. However, Snaitang had claimed that he is a social worker and leader of a group.
In a related development, a local court on Saturday rejected the East Khasi Hills police’s plea for a three-day remand of Snaitang.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Syiem said the EKH police had sought three days’ custody of the accused. “But it was not granted by the court. He (Mebanshem) was remanded to judicial custody,” Syiem revealed.
He added that the 12 bodyguards accompanying Snaitang were also remanded to judicial custody.
Talking about Friday’s development, the district police chief said that five air guns and two air pistols, seized from the vehicles, were each valued less than Rs 10,000.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has expressed concern over the incident.
She said such activities must not be allowed. She commended the police for the “good job.”