BSF personnel under investigation for shooting trucker

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today informed that an investigation is on into the gunning down of a trucker by the BSF personnel at Mawshun village on May 5, this year.

Replying to a zero-hour notice moved by NPP legislator from Sohra Gavin Miguel Mylliem in the Assembly, Tynsong said that there are two FIRs being filed on the incident.

On May 5, 2023, at around 10.24 pm, an incident occurred in which (L) Running Nongkynrih of Jalynteng, driver of the truck (ML 05F 3885) was fired upon by a BSF personnel at Mawshun village near petrol pump, NH-40 (Shillong-Dawki Road, Pynursla.

Due to the firing incident, the driver succumbed to his injuries and died on the spot.

He said one FIR was filed by a relative of the deceased, Riverskhem Nongkynrih and another FIR was filed by the BSF against the deceased person at the Pynursla police station.

“The investigation of both the cases is ensuing, and the police officials are putting in sincere efforts to ascertain the facts and circumstances of both the cases,” Tynsong said.

He said that no one was arrested in connection with the instant case.

As per the report filed by Riverskhem, it was intimated that the complainant and his cousin’s brother, the deceased person, were proceeding from Umthli village to transport buffaloes to their owner’s shed and on reaching near Mawshun village, the deceased person took a right turn in order to unload the buffaloes. However, during that time a mini truck of BSF was also following them from behind and suddenly without any warning the BSF personnel rushed towards the complainant and the victim and started firing, as a result of which the victim collapsed.

In its counter FIR filed against the deceased driver (L) Running Nongkynrih, the BSF said that on the night of May 5, 2023, the mobile check post (MCP) party of ‘G’ Company, 4 Battalion Border Security Force deployed for duty at Pynursla-Dawki road near Wahkdait village, had cautioned the driver to stop for checking.

Instead of stopping, the driver tried to escape by hitting and running over the BSF personnel on duty.

The personnel on duty sensing danger, had fired 2 rounds in the air at an interval, but the driver did not stop and tried to hit the personnel on duty.

Seeing an imminent threat to his life the personnel again fired one round towards the tyre of the truck with the intention to stop the vehicle, but the driver turned his vehicle towards the left and collided with the divider.

Tynsong said that the gunning down of the victim had sparked the ire of the local populace and a law and order situation had arisen.

“In view of the tense situation in the area, security has been tightened and Meghalaya police is keeping a close watch on the situation,” he said while informing that as of now the situation is normal in the area.

Marcuise accused of violating model code of conduct

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: Social activist Tennydard M Marak has filed an FIR against Cabinet Minister and Williamnagar legislator Marcuise N Marak for alleged corrupt practices and violation of the model code of conduct in the recently held 2023 Assembly elections.

The FIR was filed with the Williamnagar police station in East Garo Hills District.

Tennydard had also filed a complaint petition before the Chief Election Commissioner of India on March 23, with copies to the Prime Minister of India, Home Minister as well as Chairman of the North East Democratic Alliance requesting their intervention into the matter and take necessary steps to declare the election of Marcuise N Marak to be void for adopting corrupt practices and holding a fresh election in Williamnagar constituency.

In the FIR, the activist alleged that Marcuise N Marak had circulated the Report Card of 2018-2022 on his activities during the last five years during the election campaigns.

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“What is shocking to note that Marcuise N Marak had circulated the report card (which was) printed and published by Jesubell Ch Marak (block secretary, NPP) on February 3, whereas the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission is in operation in the state with effect from January 18, thereby amounts to a clear violation of the model code of conduct and therefore, his election deserves to be declared as illegal and fresh election be held,” he said.

Stating that Marcuise has not only deceived the voters of Williamnagar but also a case of breach of trust, Tennydard said the report card is just a blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the MLA.

He further alleged that the report card contained a false and fabricated report of achievement during 2018-2022 but contains no agenda of what he will do if he is elected and thereby misguided the voters by showing his fabricated performance report which has no foot to stand.

“The report card also exposed the true picture of his zero performance report so to say as the works are either incomplete or not done anything at all but claimed to have done it. The pictures given in my petition to the Chief Election Commissioner of India will reveal the truth of my claim,” he said while adding that “The report card claims to have done beautification of the Williamnagar Girls Secondary School is nothing but a blatantly false and fabricated claim of Marcuise N Marak. If you visit the school today you will find the actual truth of his false claim as the school has a boundary wall with rotten rested C.I. Sheets and most importantly the Girls have no gate which is a must for any school.”

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He said that the report card also claims under Sl. No. 7 (a) PMGSY: The road from Nengmandalgre to Mandalgre (35 KM) costing Rs 80 crores is a Road under “Prime Ministers Gram Sadak Yajna” which he has nothing to do but he did not even hesitate to take credit of the work of PMGSY unduly adding “It is a matter of great shame”.

Tennydard said he has waited for more than 10 days but unfortunately no action has been initiated till date for such an important issue.

“Under compelling circumstances, I am filing this FIR with enough prima facie evidence so that the police can verify the truth and initiate appropriate steps after due investigation and book him under the proper section of the law and leave an example of rule of law that “nobody is above the law” before the society at large – which is the need of the present hour,” he said while requesting the police to register a case under the proper section of the law and initiate strictest action against the guilty without wasting any further loss of time.