MLA Subir Marak faces backlash after slapping MBOSE employee

Shillong: Rangsakona MLA, Subir Marak, is facing backlash after allegedly assaulting an employee of the MBOSE Guest House in Shillong due to a delay in opening the main gate.

Reports indicate that around 2 AM on July 16, MLA Marak and several guests, whom he described as teachers invited to his house for dinner, arrived at the guest house. The chowkidar, also from Garo Hills, was late in responding as he was sound asleep.

Subir Marak reportedly honked and banged at the gate for nearly 30 minutes before asking someone to climb over and wake the caretaker. When the sleepy gatekeeper finally opened the gate, a heated argument ensued, during which Marak slapped the employee. The incident, captured on CCTV, has since gone viral.

In the footage, Marak can be seen slapping the employee while exchanging heated words. The video has sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many criticizing the MLA’s behavior.

Following the incident, Marak expressed regret but blamed the delay in opening the gate for his outburst.

“No complaints have been filed, but social media has been abuzz ever since the video went viral. Surprisingly, the MLA, while apologizing, felt that the video going viral was a breach of his privileges despite the incident taking place in a public compound,” said a source.

Marak clarified: “I booked an MBOSE guest house at Laithumkrah for the teacher representatives from Garo Hills. They had an appointment with the Education Minister and the Director of DSEL on July 16. On the evening of July 15, I invited them for dinner at my residence. After dinner, I personally dropped them off at the guest house, arriving at 2 AM. I waited for half an hour, blowing the siren and horn, before my PSO climbed over the wall to wake the chowkidar. We had a verbal argument, and the chowkidar’s wife spoke very rudely. I gave a ‘mild’ slap, which I should not have done as a public representative. It all happened in the heat of the moment. I have apologised to the chowkidar,” said Marak, still calling the video a breach of an MLA’s privileges.

The teachers who were with Marak defended him, stating that the MLA did wait for half an hour and that the chowkidar’s wife spoke rudely to him. They also claimed that the incident going viral on social media was a breach of Marak’s privileges.

Public reactions have been largely critical of Marak’s actions. Many pointed out that arriving at the guest house at 2 AM should have made him aware of the circumstances.

“Who would like to be woken up at 2 AM and then be slapped by an MLA because they were fast asleep? This shows the MLA’s highhandedness. The wife had every right to be angry. The MLA’s behavior is beyond understanding,” said a resident of Tura.

Similar comments have flooded social media following the video’s release. Allegations of a gun being pointed at the chowkidar have also surfaced, though nothing on the CCTV footage supports this claim.