Congress Hand Alleged In Murder Of Meghalaya NCP Candidate

Hours after the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from Meghalaya’s Williamnagar assembly seat, Jonathone Nengminza Sangma, on Sunday evening (18 February), allegations about the involvement of his rival Congress candidate and former minister, Deborah Marak, in the bomb blast that killed him have emerged.

Unsigned posters had appeared in the constituency (elections to the 60 assembly seats in the state will be held on 27 February) warning voters against canvassing or supporting Sangma.

In the 2013 Meghalaya assembly elections too, similar posters signed by the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) had appeared in the constituency and Sangma had then alleged that Marak, who he had lost to in the poll battle, was behind it. Meghalaya Police had even filed a chargesheet against Marak and her aide for having links with the GNLA and using the militant outfit to get votes.

Marak, who was the social welfare minister then, is reportedly close to Meghalaya’s Congress Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who himself faces charges of corruption and has, in the past, been accused of having links with militant outfits.

Marak is currently out on bail.