SHILLONG, OCT 4: Residents of a village in East Khasi Hills District today registered their strong opposition against the alleged arbitrary decision of a tribal chief to give away a portion of the community land to the police department “free of cost” without the consent of the dorbar.
The Sordar of Diengpasoh village Gordon Wahlang have been accused of abusing his power by allowing the police department to acquire a community land measuring 2 acres for the purpose of constructing the building of the newly created Diengpasoh Police Station.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Sidramon Mukhim, a resident of the village alleged that the people of the village were kept in the dark by the sordar about the land acquisition of the police department which had taken place in 2015.
However maintaining that the residents are not against the setting up of the police station, she however said, “But we are against the decision taken by the sordar to give the land free of cost without the consent of the dorbar shnong.”
According to her, this is because of the fact that the dorbar shnong has a rule which prohibited the residents from registering the community lands, which are utilized by them for various activities, as private lands.
On the other hand, Mukhim also informed that the residents had also recently opposed the construction of the temporary house for the police station on 30,000 sq ft plot of land. The police station will be inaugurated by the chief minister Mukul Sangma on October 10.
Asked, she said that they have sought the immediate intervention of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and also the district deputy commissioner PS Dkhar to direct the sordar to convene the meeting of the dorbar.
“We have urged the authorities concerned to also take action against the sordar for violating the standing order of the dorbar and accordingly direct the police department to stop the ongoing construction work of the police station till the matter is resolved,” she said.
The complaint submitted by at least six residents of the village on Tuesday also demanded the immediate suspension of the sordar. “We have not elected him (Wahlang) as a sordar to sell our lands but to preserve the community lands,” Mukhim said.
Meanwhile, the residents have also slammed the sitting MDC of Sohryngkham Pyniaid Sing Syiem for interfering into the affairs of the dorbar especially in connection with the matter.
“We do not understand what interest he (Syiem) is having by interfering with the rights of the people. What relation he is having with the dorbar shnong,” Mukhim said while criticising the MDC for being instrumental in recommending the sites for the police station.
She said it is unfortunate that a member of the district council who is expected to protect the rights of the indigenous people and their lands is trying to take sides on this particular matter.
As per a government notification issued last month, villages under the Diengpasoh Police Station will include Sohlaper, Mawiong, Ummir, Mawsharoh, Mawthumthum, Ryngksaw, Diengpasoh, Jaroit, Mawkhanu, Mynriang and Nonghali.
By Our Reporter
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