TURA, Nov 3 � Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak was chargesheeted by the police today for her alleged links with militants to win the 2013 State Assembly elections.
Confirming the news, East Garo Hills SP Davies Marak said, �We have filed a chargesheet against Deborah Marak in a case of using GNLA militants to win elections in 2013.
A case was filed by a candidate Jonathone N Sangma against the MLA for taking the support of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants to win the 2013 elections. The East Garo Hills (EGH) police today filed a chargesheet on the charges made to the Court today.
Further, the role of Tennydard Marak (who had earlier questioned the tribal status of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma) was also under the scanner after police found his involvement in assisting Deborah and he was chargesheeted as well.
Jonathone Sangma had alleged the use of GNLA militants by Deborah, a former Deputy Chief Minister to intimidate villagers to ensure they did not vote for him. He had alleged that Deborah Marak had an agreement with the outfit to help win the elections. During the elections, banners warning people against supporting or voting for Sangma were distributed in the area.
The GNLA had also warned the villagers that anyone supporting Sangma would face the gun or take bullets.
�During the elections, Deborah Marak and Tennydard Marak had gone from village to village taking the name of the outfit as well as the banners warning people of retribution from the GNLA if they dared support Jonathone Sangma�, said Marak.
�The GNLA too had posted banners in many villages warning of being shot if the diktat was not heeded. Many Nokmas too had been threatened by the outfit to support Deborah. The GNLA had actively helped her win the elections based on conditional support�, added Marak.
�The agreement of GNLA with Deborah was based on the fact that the MLA had assured of her support for the cause of Garoland in return for their help in winning the elections in 2013�, said Davies Marak.
