FIR filed against Meghalaya minister in assault case

The Joint Committee on Assault of Labourer (JCAL) has accused the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government and Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Bindo M Lanong of shielding Meghalaya Mining and Geology Minister Donkupar Massar who has been accused of assaulting four labourers in Borsora in West Khasi Hills district and Pongtung village headman Wallambok Lyngdoh in East Khasi Hills district. Two separate FIRs have been lodged against Massar in Ranikor police station in West Khasi Hills and Pynursla in East Khasi Hills.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, however, told The Indian Express on Friday: “The Government is not trying to protect the minister.” Roy said the MPA coordination committee, of which he is chairman, will study the version of Massar and JCAL and take a decision.

The Pongtung village headman was allegedly beaten up on September 28 before Massar was accused of assaulting the four labourers, but the FIR was filed later. The village council of Pongtung decided the minister should not be allowed to go free and accordingly Lyngdoh filed a police complaint.

East Khasi Hills SP A R Mawthoh told The Indian Express on Friday: “Yes, we have registered a case, but will question the minister only after completing our investigation.”