Action against Minister if found guilty: Lyngdoh

Shillong, Oct 14 (UNI) As public pressure to remove Meghalaya Mining and Geology Minister Donkupar Massar from the Cabinet and arrest him gained momentum, the NCP-backed coalition government has declared not to shield the Minister, if found guilty of misuse of power and assault on road labourers.

''We will not shield anyone irrespective of the position that a person holds in the government office,'' Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh said.

Mr Massar, who was elected as an Independent MLA from Nongshken constituency bordering Bangladesh, is accused of assaulting and threatening to kill four labourers in Borsora near the border in West Khasi hills district.

Three of those who were allegedly assaulted by the minister had filed an FIR with the Ranikor police station in West Khasi district.

Last night, Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy summoned an emergency meeting of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) coordination committee to discuss Mr Massar's case.

The MPA Coordination Committee has decided to seek an explanation from Mr Massar and a detailed police report on the incident before taking any action against the minister.

''We will not defend anyone and everybody will be given a fair chance,'' Mr Lyngdoh said, adding that the government would not impose on the Assembly Speaker.

''He (Speaker) will be given liberty to take action against the minister,'' he stated.

Mr Lyngdoh added that the Committee would take a final decision on the fate of Mr Massar after looking into the police report and hearing the statement of the minister on the alleged assault incident.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition D D Lapang has asked the Chief Minister to clear the ''clouds of doubts and unpleasantness created by the incident.'' ''The Congress would not seek political mileage out of the issue and the MPA government should not project its image contrary to the acceptable norms,'' Mr Lapang said.

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