6 children rescued, 73 arrested from 'brothel' run by BJP leader in Meghalaya, police say

Police in Meghalaya on Saturday said they rescued six minors, including two girls from a farmhouse run by BJP's state vice-president Bernard N Marak Rimpu in West Garo Hills district and arrested 73 persons during a raid conducted based on complaints.

Rimpu Bagan, a farmhouse owned by militant-turned-politician Marak, was raided on the basis of a tip-off, West Garo Hills district's Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh told PTI.

"We 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," Singh said.

All the children were handed over to District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for safe custody and further necessary action as per law, he said.

Police said the materials recovered from the farmhouse suggested that it was being used as a brothel for the purpose of prostitution. "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," said a statement issued by West Garo Hills police.

The raid was conducted on Friday night, which according to police, continued till 2 am on Saturday.

Police further said the six, including two minor girls were rescued from an "unhygienic" condition and all of them were found in a state of shock and fear. At least three couples were found in "compromising situations" in narrow rooms inside the farmhouse situated in the outskirts of Tura, the headquarters of 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.

BJP is a minor ally in the coalition government in Meghalaya headed by National People's Party (NPP). Marak, while talking to a section of media in Meghalaya, however, refuted the charges levelled by police and claimed that it was 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.

Police said they have asked Marak to cooperate with the investigation and surrender at the Shillong Sadar police station immediately, but he was evading arrest. Marak was the chairman of the now disbanded militant group, Achik National Volunteers Group (B). He joined politics after signing an agreement with the government.

(With inputs from PTI)