TURA, May 8 � An NCP defector who joined hands with the Congress to bring down the Purno K Sangma led NCP alliance in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has gone missing. He is presumed kidnapped and his son has filed an FIR with the Tura police in this regard.
The sitting MDC from Balachanda constituency of Rajabala in West Garo Hills, Lalthantlunga D Shira, failed to turn up at his home on Thursday night. His son filed an FIR with the Tura police the next day stating that his father had gone to the residence of an NCP MDC, Larson Sangma, from where he was taken away by the MDC and another member, Lahithson M Sangma to the residence of ousted NCP CEM Purno K Sangma.
Since then no information has been forthcoming on the whereabouts of Shira. His son, Ashahel D Shira, has urged the police to find his father within three-four days failing which a public meeting will be organised in his father�s constituency of Balachanda.
Ashahel D Shira added that if the NCP is keen for peace and development of Garo Hills they should accept the House verdict and give the party with majority a chance to govern Garo Hills.
It may be mentioned that during last year�s elections to the 30 member GHADC House, the NCP romped home with a large majority of 19 MDCs but failed to keep its flock togehter due to unhappiness among a majority of the members over the selection of the CEM, P K Sangma. As many as five senior MDCs defected to the Congress and its UDP alliance partner also parted ways.
The NCP had won 19 seats, Congress 5, UDP 2, ANC 1, and two Independents. However, after a turbulent year of dissatisfaction and defection by members from the ruling side, the NCP was pushed into a minority of 14 MDCs while the opposition Congress and its allies gained 15 MDCs.
Presently, the House is in suspended animation with the government having taken control of the Council administration.