Subhechcha Ganguly 
Six children were saved and 73 individuals were detained from a “brothel” purportedly owned by the BJP’s Meghalaya vice-president Bernard N Marak in West Garo Hills of Tura on Saturday, a top police official said. This is a tremendous embarrassment for the BJP. Vivekananda Singh Rathore, superintendent of police for the West Garo Hills district, informed HT over the phone from Tura that a raid was carried out in the building because of a tip-off about the sex racket being run out of Rimpu Bagan.Four boys and two girls, all under the age of 18, were found imprisoned in filthy, gloomy cabin-like chambers at Rimpu Bagan, which Bernard N. Marak and his associates were operating as a brothel for the purpose of prostitution, Singh claimed.The senior officer reported that during the raid, 27 vehicles, eight two-wheelers, about 400 liquor bottles, more than 500 unused condoms, and crossbows and arrows were all seized. He also said that all of the children were given to the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for safe custody and any additional legal action that may be required.The BJP’s Meghalaya chapter keeps quiet and hasn’t released any formal statements. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, which is in power and is led by Sangma’s NPP, includes the BJP.
By Subhechcha Ganguly
