Meghalaya: 6 Children Allegedly Rescued, 73 Arrested After Police Raids Farmhouse

Shillong: The Meghalaya police, on July 23, said that six minors, including two girls, were rescued from a farmhouse which is apparently run by BJP's state vice-president Bernard N Marak Rimpu in West Garo Hills district.

West Garo Hills district's Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh told the media that the cops, acting on a tipoff, have raided Rimpu Bagan, a farmhouse owned by militant-turned-politician Marak and as many as 73 persons were arrested during the raid.

Notably, the raid was carried out on the night of July 22 and it continued till 2 am on July 23, as per the police.

The top cop said that they have rescued six minors, four boys and two girls, who were found locked inside dingy cabin-like unhygienic rooms at Rimpu Bagan, run by Bernard N Marak and his accomplices as a brothel, for the purpose of prostitution.

He added that all the children were handed over to District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for safe custody and further necessary action as per law.

Police said that the materials recovered from the farmhouse indicated that the property was being used as a brothel for prostitution purposes.

"From the materials recovered at Rimpu Bagan as well as the design of the building, it appears that the place was being used by Bernard N Marak Rimpu and his accomplice as a brothel for the purpose of prostitution," a statement issued by West Garo Hills police read.

In a horrific revelation, the police said that all of them were rescued from an "unhygienic" condition and they were found to be in a state of shock and terror.

The police added that at least three couples were found to be in "compromising situations" in narrow rooms inside the farmhouse which is located on the outskirts of Tura, the headquarters of the West Garo Hills district.

At least 73 persons, who were partying in the farmhouse were detained and subsequently arrested on charges of illegal and immoral activities. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956.

However, Marak, while talking to a section of the media in Meghalaya, dismissed the charges levelled against him and instead, claimed it to be a "political conspiracy" by the NPP-led government in the state. He said he had informed BJP's high command about the police action.

"The CM is getting desperate as he knows he is losing his South Tura seat to the BJP. The raid at my farmhouse is a desperate attempt by him to malign my image and a political vendetta," he claimed.

Meanwhile, the police have said that they have asked Marak to cooperate with the investigation and surrender at the Shillong Sadar police station immediately but he did not show up and was evading arrest.

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