Shillong, Apr 18 (Representative) A day after a 60-metre iron-steel bridge in Meghalaya collapsed, a social activist Nilberth Marak on Wednesday lodged a complaint to the Election Commission of India against government officials for allowing the rampant and illegal exportation of sugar to Bangladesh. “Complaint against the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police of North Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, Meghalaya for allowing the rampant and illegal exportation of sugar to Bangladesh and allowing the overloading trucks to ply in violation of Supreme Court order and in violation against the model code of conduct,” Marak’s complaint read. The bridge collapsed on Tuesday when two trucks carrying sugar and allegedly heading towards the India-Bangladesh border in South Garo Hills district. The bridge connecting Dimapara and Karongre had a load carrying capacity of 9 metric ton, but the two trucks bearing number AS-01-MC-4307 and AS-01-FC-6875 belonging to one Akrirul Islam Faraji, which tried to cross over, had a combined capacity in excess of 20 metric ton leading to its collapse, Marak said.
“Due to the collapsed of bridge the upcoming Lok Sabha Election which is going to be held on April 19, is going to be affected very badly particularly for the government staffs who were deploy to various polling station of South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills and also to the voters who are residing in South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills Meghalaya as there is no other alternative road or bridge connecting from South Garo Hills to West Garo Hills,” Marak said. Meanwhile, the district police chief of West Garo Hills, Dr. Dara Aswaghosh said that an FIR has been filed and drivers of the trucks are injured. He however, couldn’t confirm the number of drivers injured or if they are hospitalised. “The case is under investigation and an FIR has been filed. I can’t confirm how many have been injured or where the consignment was heading to. These things would be cleared after investigation,” Aswaghosh said.