Meghalaya: NPP State Chief, Opp. Leader Mukul for fair probe after NPP legislator accused of rape
In an FIR filed with the Superintendent of Police, Shillong, the woman had stated that Thomas raped her on numerous occasions at her residence in Nongthymmai and in Hotel Magnum in Shillong on the pretext of getting married.
SHILLONG:
State President of the National People’s Party (NPP) Dr. W.R. Kharlukhi and Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma on Wednesday favoured a fair and proper investigation, and not consider mere allegations, after a woman lodged an FIR against NPP MLA Thomas Sangma on Tuesday accusing him of rape.
In an FIR filed with the Superintendent of Police, Shillong, the woman had stated that Thomas raped her on numerous occasions at her residence in Nongthymmai and in Hotel Magnum in Shillong on the pretext of getting married.
The woman also added that she had filed an FIR against Thomas earlier as well but withdrew it after she received gifts and also because she was not feeling well.
Responding to the allegations, NPP State President Dr. W.R. Kharlukhi said that Thomas cannot be termed guilty based on allegations levelled against him and the law will take its own course.
Speaking on local television Northeast Live, Kharlukhi also said that the government favoured a proper investigation and comments cannot be made on mere allegations.
Favouring an investigation, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma also said, “Let the law take its own course as far as this case is concerned.”
“This is something personal to the concerned MLA and the law of the land should be trusted. We trust our judiciary system, we have a very robust judiciary system and therefore, we should have enough trust and confidence in our judiciary system.”
Meanwhile, Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh has written to the Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly demanding the removal of Thomas from house committees.
Ampareen, who is also the Chairman of Assembly Committee for Empowerment of Women, said the precedent of taking such an action could be drawn from former MLA Julius Dorphang, who had been removed in 2017 after he had raped a minor.
(Edited by Anirban Paul)
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