Shillong, July 14: Former Meghalaya minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Adolf Lu Hitler Marak was granted bail by the district magistrate today.
Marak was arrested on June 26 under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Sections 121 and 121-A of the IPC for allegedly having links with banned militant outfits of the state. Marak was one of the few politicians of the state who had come under the police scanner for their involvement with the Garo Hills-based A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC).
His arrest had sparked a political debate, with the NCP coming down hard on the D.D. Lapang government and accusing it of being partisan.
Soon after his arrest, Marak was hospitalised and could not be produced in court. His bail petition was rejected by the court twice on the ground that a thorough interrogation by the police had not been completed.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner D.P. Wahlang, who heard the case today, granted bail with several conditions. The bail, which was granted after a bond of Rs 50,000 and local surety of like amount were furnished, was with the proviso that he should not abuse the liberty of the court and should be available for interrogation and investigation by the authorities.
The court, in its order, also said the former minister should not hamper investigations and tamper with the evidence of the court and also should not act in a manner which was prejudicial to the security of the state. Marak was also asked to co-operate with the court.
NCP president Edmund K. Sangma said the party has maintained from the beginning that Marak was not involved with the rebels and would continue to do so.
In the case of payoffs to militants, the district magistrate today granted bail to 19 more businessmen and 10 government officials.
The police had filed FIRs against the businessmen and government officials for allegedly funding the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
So far, a total of over 204 businessmen and government officials have moved for bail, of which 35 petitions have been rejected.
Hijackers held
Mizoram police have arrested the leader and four members of an armed gang operating under the banner of Mizo Liberation Front, reports our correspondent from Aizawl.
The police sprang into action after examining a note left by the gang in a Silchar-bound truck carrying gas cylinders which the miscreants had hijacked on Friday on National Highway 54, 30 km from here.
The note was handwritten and carried the logo Mizo Liberation Front. It said the MLF’s motto was to save Mizoram which had fallen prey to greed, corruption and poverty.
Following clues, the police managed to trace the leader Vanhnuaithanga to Bawngkawn and arrested him the same day.
Following his confession, four of his accomplices — C. Rualkhuma alias Mavala, MLF vice-president, Lalthanpuia, secretary, Lalthlamuansanga and Vansangliana — were also arrested.
Two members of the gang, Joseph and Lalhuapliana, both Myanmarese nationals, are still absconding.
