A day after suspected terrorists shot dead an NCP candidate in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the incident proves the absolute lawlessness in Meghalaya and questioned the sincerity and commitment of the Congress Government in the State.
The Union Home Minister addressed a rally at Songsak in East Garo Hills district on Monday, campaigning for BJP candidate, Thomas N Marak (Songsak constituency), and termed the untoward incident on Sunday night as a glaring example of failure of the the Congress Government in the State. Singh expressed his shock over the gruesome killing of the NCP candidate, Jonathan N Sangma, who had filed his nomination from Williamnagar constituency.
On Sunday night, suspected terrorists attacked the vehicle of Jonathan Sangma at Samanda near Williamnagar. The terrorists first triggered an IED blast and then fired randomly at the vehicle carrying Sangma, killing him and three others instantly. Other three people injured during the attack were referred to a hospital in Guwahati for better treatment.
“There is no law & order in Meghalaya. It is shocking to know that one NCP candidate was killed by unidentified gunmen while returning from campaigning. Meghalaya has 57 police stations but only 39 are active. This shows how serious the Congress is about security of the people,” said the Union Home Minister while addressing the rally at Songsak.
Meanwhile, the Chief Election Officer of Meghalaya Frederick Roy Kharkongor has sought for additional security forces, particularly for deployment in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. “As per norms, we have deferred the poll in Williamnagar constituency following the killing of the candidate. The fresh date for the polls will be announced later,” said Kharkongor while talking to newsmen in Shillong today.
“We have sought for more forces from the centre particularly for deployment in Garo Hills region. More forces are needed to hold free and fair polls in the troubled region,” said the CEO.
It may be mentioned here that prior to killing of the NCP candidate last night, there was a poster campaign in Williamnagar constituency in Meghalaya asking people not to vote for the NCP candidate else they will receive bullets from AK and pistols. Sangma had contested from the Williamnagar constituency in 2013 but lost to senior Congress leader Deborah C Marak.
later, Sangma had filed a case against Marak alleging that she has used the help of Garo National liberation Army (GNlA), an armed militant outfit active in Garo Hills region, to win the elections.