Political conspiracy' counterattacks BJP on Tura 'brothel' raid

The dramatic police raid on BJP vice president Bernard Marak's property in Tura on Friday took on a political dimension as the state BJP steadfastly supported its persecuted MDC, who is wanted by the police. While Marak launched a counterattack, claiming that he was not fleeing but rather merely attempting to elude police who, he claimed, were trying to kill him, BJP president Ernest Mawrie pinned out and called the police action a "political conspiracy," implicating Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and NPP.

The BJP leader claimed in an email statement that three police vehicles approached him near Bethany Hospital at approximately midnight on the night of the raid after the officer in charge of Tura police station had contacted and asked him to surrender at Sadar police station in Shillong. IGP (Law and Order) MK Singh and SP Vivekanand Singh of the West Garo Hills, according to Marak, were among the police officers.

As I had knowledge of their plan to shoot me down earlier, I hid. Based on information from reliable sources, both are close to the CM and have been posted with a purpose. Gunning me down and arresting BJP supporters was their task. The moment I saw Singh, I knew they were up to something, so I escaped. I was holding up a little bit away, but why would he come to where I was? Marak asked.

In addition, he said that DGP LR Bishnoi's video statement confirmed that they were tracking him in Shillong and Guwahati. According to him, "I moved out that night in order to avoid their execution plan because my life was under threat from the goons in the Police department."

In addition, Marak claimed that Singh had shot dead four of his sons in a phoney encounter in Darengagal in 2014 and had repeatedly tried to kill him while serving as the SP of the West Garo Hills.

"They don't even respect the A'chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC)-signed Agreed Text for Settlement that was signed by the state and federal administrations. The settlement has not yet taken place. After I defeated his candidate to win the CM's Tura seat as an MDC last year, the plot against me intensified. The NPP and its leader are at risk due to the growing BJP support in Garo Hills, according to the BJP vice president.

Once he is "secure," Marak said he would assist with the probe.

The NPP and its national president (Conrad Sangma) have been accused of carrying out the raid as an act of "political vendetta" because they are worried about losing the Garo Hills and South Tura constituency in particular.