GOVERNMENT OF MEGHALAYA

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,

WEST GARO HILLS, TURA
***********************************************************
PRESS RELEASE

A FIR was received on 28th February 2022 to

the effect that the minor daughter of the complainant was missing from home for
one week and on that day, the relatives of the minor traced her along with one
suspect and handed over to Tura Women PS. Later, it was ascertained that the
minor was sexually assaulted multiple times over one week. Accordingly, a case
was registered vide Tura Women PS Case No. 24(02)2022 u/s 366A/376 IPC r/w
5/6 POCSO Act and investigated. During the recording of statement u/s 164 CrPC,
the victim girl stated in the court that she and her friend was taken to Rimpu Bagan
by the main accused person and one of his friends. They hired one room and
sexually assaulted her there multiple times.

Apart from the instant case, multiple verbal

complaints were being received by respectable residents of Tura town area that
many immoral activities are going on at Rimpu Bagan owned by one Bernard N.
Marak @ Rimpu who is the member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council
(GHADC). The police records indicate that Bernard N. Marak @ Rimpu is a known
criminal with more than 25 criminal cases registered against him since early 2000s.
This person was the self-styled Chairman of the now disbanded militant outfit
named A.chik Nationalist Voluntary Council (B) and even after the disbandment of
the outfit, he has been indulging in criminal activities like extortion from traders of
Tura market, criminal intimidation in case of refusal to pay extortion money, arms
smuggling, prostitution, illegal sale of liquor, illegal sale of lottery tickets, teer
counters, encroachment on other’s property, illegal collection of money for
recommending issue of TNT license etc.

Accordingly, a special operation was launched

on 22nd July 2022 which is still going on. The search operation started at approx. 6
PM and the first phase finished at around 5 AM this morning. On arrival at Rimpu
Bagan, the search team noticed a three storied building (2 floors in basement and 1
floor above ground level) with approximately 30 small rooms. This building was
suspected to be the place where the minor girl was sexually assaulted. The team

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also noticed many young boys and girls openly drinking in the premises, inside the
rooms as well as inside the vehicles. Some of them were sitting inside the vehicle
without clothes or with very less clothes on the body. Accordingly, the search team
detained all these boys and girls numbering around 68 nos. for interrogation. Some
managed to run away taking advantage of darkness and by running over crushed
liquor bottles. The search team also apprehended the manager, caretaker and other
three staff. Later, the whole premise was searched in presence of independent
witnesses and 36 vehicles, 47 mobile phones, 168268 ml liquor, huge
quantities of contraceptives (condoms) and other incriminating materials
were recovered as detailed below.

1. Light Motor vehicles – 27 Nos.

2. Scooty/Motorcycle – 8 Nos.
3. Auto Rickshaw – 1 Nos.
4. 144 Nos. bottles Kingfisher Beer 650 ml each
5. 16 Nos. Tuborg Can 500 ml each
6. 25 Nos. bottles White Wine 650 ml each
7. 11 Nos. bottles Black Current Wine 650 ml each
8. 12 Nos. bottles Red Wine 650 ml each
9. 12 Nos. bottles Strawberry Wine 650 ml each
10. 7 Nos. bottles Banana Wine 650 ml each
11. 9 Nos. bottles Apple Wine 650 ml each
12. 24 Nos. bottles Royal Stag 180 ml each
13. 14 Nos. bottles Royal Stag 375 ml each
14. 16 Nos. bottles Signature 180 ml each
15. 5 Nos. bottles Signature 375 ml each
16. 5 Nos. bottles Black Berry Breezer 275 ml each
17. 7 Nos. bottles Jamaican Breezer 275 ml each
18. 47 Nos. Mobile Phones
19. 1 No. Cross Bow Barnet along with Telescope.
20. 44 Nos. Cross Bow Barnet Arrow.
21. 1 No. Kukri (Knife) with Wooden Handle.
22. 1 No. Dao (Machete) with Wooden Handle.
23. 1 No. Register containing records of the visitors.

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 24. 1 No. Exercise Book containing records of the vehicles of visitors.
25. 1 No. Exercise Book of Shri Mikson Sangma with 7 names written.
26. 500 unused contraceptives (condoms)
27. Rs. 30,000/- Cash (Approx.)

Shockingly, five children (4 boys and one girl)

were also found locked inside dingy cabin like unhygienic rooms. All the children
were in a state of shock and were unable to speak properly. All these children were
handed over to District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for safe custody and further
necessary action as per law.
From the materials recovered at Rimpu Bagan
as well as the design of building etc., it appears that the place was being used by
Bernard N. Marak @ Rimpu and his accomplices as a “BROTHEL” for the purpose of
prostitution. Therefore, a case vide Tura Women PS Case No. 105(07)2022 u/s
3/4/5/6/7 of Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956 has been
registered and being investigated. All 73 detained persons have been arrested and
being forwarded to the court. The main accused namely Bernard N. Marak @ Rimpu
was verbally instructed to cooperate with the investigation and surrender himself at
Shillong Sadar Police Station immediately. However, he has not cooperated and is
evading arrest at the time of issue of this press release. The search operation is
continuing. Further details shall follow subsequently.
Help us to help you!

VIVEKANA Digitally signed by

VIVEKANAND SINGH

ND SINGH Date: 2022.07.23

13:58:50 +05'30'
(V S Rathore, IPS)
Superintendent of Police,
West Garo Hills, Tura.

Memo No. CON.M(2)2022/3929 Dated Tura, the 23rd July 2022

Copy to:
1. The Editors of all local and national newspapers, online news portals etc. for
kind information with a request to give wide publicity for public information.
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