Assam: Absconding MAC executive councillor in police net, arrest sparks tension in Jonai
DHEMAJI: An executive councillor of the Mising Autonomous Council (MAC) in Assam, Raju Medok, who had been evading arrest, was apprehended by the police in Jonai on Monday (March 11).
Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Medok from Jenging in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
He was taken into custody under sections 406/420/409/34 of the Indian Penal Code (Case No. 159/2023) registered at the Jonai police station in Dhemaji district of Assam.
Medok stands accused of misappropriating a significant sum of public funds allocated by the Assam Social Welfare Department for the construction of nine Model Anganwadi centers in the Jonai sub-division.
Presented before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate at Jonai in Assam amidst tight security on Tuesday (March 12), Medok was remanded to two-day police custody.
According to the complaint, Medok served as the chairman of the “Constituency Level Construction Committee”, responsible for overseeing the construction of Anganwadi centers.
However, he allegedly diverted Rs 60.75 lakh into his personal bank account through fraudulent means.
Following public complaints, the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) of Dhemaji in Assam initiated a ground inquiry into the irregularities surrounding the construction of the model Anganwadi centers, leading to the discovery of financial misconduct.
Subsequently, the DSWO filed an FIR with the Jonai Police in December last year, calling for a thorough investigation by the Assam Bureau of Economic Offence.
Jonai SDPO Prajeet Lahkar, who spearheaded the investigation, confirmed the existence of prima facie evidence supporting the complaints and pressed charges against Medok for misappropriation of public funds.
Medok's arrest has stirred concern among his supporters, prompting hundreds of people, including members of various Mising organizations, to gather outside the Jonai police station in Assam.
They vociferously demanded Medok's release, leading to heightened tensions in and around Jonai town of Assam.
In response, all shops and businesses in the township remained shuttered for the day.
The protesters also targeted a meeting organized by the Mising Students Union at Jonai Kristi Bhavan, resulting in injuries to several union members and damage to the premises.
To restore order, the local administration deployed paramilitary forces in Jonai, effectively quelling the unrest.