Shillong, Oct 4: Residents of Diengpasoh village in East Khasi Hills District demanded immediate suspension of the Sordar for his alleged involvement in misusing his power by allotting a community land to the police department free of cost.

In a petition to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief, P.N. Syiem, six residents of the village said, “We demand that the sordar be suspended till the matter is resolved.”

The sordar was alleged to have violated the rules of the Dorbar Shnong by allowing the police department to acquire the community land of around 2 acres for setting up of the newly created Diengpasoh police station.

They have also sought the intervention of the district administration to direct the police department to stop the construction work of the temporary building of the police station, which has started recently.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Sidramon Mukhim, one of the complainants said that the villagers strongly opposed the allotment of land to the police department free of cost.

“This decision was taken by the Sordar, Gordon Wahlang alone without the knowledge of the Dorbar and its executive committee,” she said.

She said that the villagers were against the setting up of the police station in the village but were of the view that compensation for such land acquisition should be made.

On the other hand, Mukhim said that it was illegal on the part of the Sordar to give the land free of cost as the Dorbar had passed an order disallowing any move to register community lands as private lands.

“We are only allowed to utilize the community land for various purposes including cultivation but not to register them as our own land,” she said.

Meanwhile, the villagers have also criticized Sohryngkham MDC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem for his alleged interference into the matter.

“How can a representative of the KHADC who is supposed to protect our rights, instead tried to take sides on this issue,” Mukhim asked, while informing that Syiem were seen with the Sordar for the selection of a suitable site for setting up of the proposed police station.

The police station is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on October 10.