Rapsang denies charge, want security in Shillong West

SHILLONG, SEPT 19: The already volatile situation in the Shillong West ahead of the 2018 state elections has prompted the block committee of the ruling Congress to seek the home department’s intervention for beefing up security in and around the constituency.

“We have sought for adequate security deployment in Shillong West especially during night time from 10 pm to 4 amas we do not want the situation to be volatile to ensure there is peaceful campaigning in the constituency,” said Mahendro Rapsang, the president of the Shillong West Block Congress Committee (SWBCC) here on Tuesday.

He said that the Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem had assured them when they met him earlier today to look into the matter.

This came a day after sitting legislator of Shillong West Paul Lyngdoh had charged his political opponent Rapsang for allegedly involved in paying goons to stage a petrol bomb attack on his residence.

An FIR was filed by the MLA, who is also the working president of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) with the Lumdiengjri police station just after the incident which took place at 5 am on Monday.

“We highly suspect that the incident of hurling petrol bombs is the handiwork of his (Rapsang) supporters because I am sure these are paid goons,” Lyngdoh had stated.

However categorically denied the direct charge made by the MLA against him, Rapsang told reporters that it is unfortunate that Lyngdoh without any evidence is making the wild allegations which are totally baseless.

“I am contesting the upcoming elections with a cause to address issues pertaining to education, health and poverty and not to engage goondas. My supporters are not supporting me out of fear but out of love,” he said.

Rapsang however said that there have been petrol bomb attacks on his supporters’ residences as well in the past besides the recent incident in which the CCTV cameras installed outside the block’s office at Mawprem were damaged by miscreants.

“I condemn these incidents and urged the home department to take serious note and ensure the culprits are brought to book,” he said.

Asked, Rapsang, who had earlier unsuccessfully contested against sitting legislator in 2013 MLA elections, claimed that such allegations made against him would in fact add to his prospect because people knows that he is not that type of a leader.

Having said this, he however maintained that consultation with legal experts is already in the process whether to file a defamation suit against the sitting legislator for tarnishing his image in the public eyes.

On Lyngdoh’s allegation that the block office remains open till late at night, a support of Rapsang, Rishan Nongsiej said that there is no rule that prevents the office of a political party from functioning 24 X 7.

“He (Lyngdoh) is so ignorant to make such allegation or is it because he sees that it is affecting his prospect with the block office present in the constituency,” he said.

Nongsiej, who is also a former supporter of Lyngdoh, informed that they had also filed an FIR against the damaging of the CCTVs of the party’s office, which took place at around 2 am on September 17, day before the petrol bomb attack on the MLA’s residence.

“We have also submitted the video footage evidences to the SP office where three persons have been identified for necessary action on the part of the police,” he said while refusing to disclose the identity of the identified miscreants.

Nongsiej further alleged that the incident is an attempt to sabotage the Congress leader for gaining public sympathy adding “But we leave it to wisdom of the police to find out the truth.”

By Our Reporter