TURA, Nov 13: Reports of assault, intimidation and attempts to buy votes have surfaced from different corners of Gambegre barely hours before polls open on November 13.
The allegations come on a day of cash seizure from a vehicle belonging to one of the contesting parties. Flying squad teams of the Election Commission seized cash amounting to Rs 58,000/- from a Trinamool Congress vehicle on the Kherapara-Rimrangpara road of Gambegre constituency. Three men were also detained from the vehicle.
Accusations have been made against some of the big names in the political arena. A man identified as Fourthlight Ch Marak accused former chief minister Mukul Sangma and his brother and ex-MLA Zenith M Sangma of physical assault while tailing their convoy on Monday night.
In response, Mukul Sangma has given a written complaint to the Returning Officer accusing the man of “Circulating a false, fabricated and malicious video”.
This malicious content has a serious bearing on my good reputation and can have serious ramifications on the outcome of the ongoing by-election for 56-Gambegre (ST) Assembly Constituency with further damage to the good reputation that I have built up over the years with hard work, honesty and integrity. This must be investigated immediately as per law and the outcome of the investigation must be made public immediately,” stated Mukul Sangma in his complaint to the Returning Officer.
In another incident, an FIR and a counter FIR were filed between NPP MDC Stevie Marak and a man accusing him of assault and threat with a weapon.
The complainant Jostview D Sangma filed his FIR at Damalgre police station alleging that the Boldamgre MDC Stevie Marak entered Jembragre village during the early hours of Tuesday, after campaigning closed, with an intention to buy votes.
He claimed that the MDC assaulted him and threatened the village volunteers by brandishing a pistol.
Giving a counter FIR at the same police station, the MDC accused the complainant of waylaying his vehicle while returning home from a village late Monday night.
“I was returning from Chigitchagre village after attending a birthday party of a friend when the accused and a group of others waylaid my vehicle at Jembagre village. They demanded money and when we refused they tried to attack us. We managed to resist their attack and proceeded to Tura,” states the MDC in his counter FIR.
Countering the allegation that he used a pistol to threaten the complainant, the MDC mentioned in his police complaint that he had already deposited his firearms at Damalgre police station with receipt of necessary papers. He is now seeking that police register a case against the complainant for giving a false FIR.
Magistrate to probe complaints
Meanwhile, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani has said that a probe will be carried out against all allegations and complaints related to the election. The probe will be headed by an additional district magistrate.
A screen grab of a vehicle belonging to an NPP MDC that has been doctored to make it look like it was carrying illegal cash has also gone viral. That post has been identified as fake news.
