Shillong, Dec 5: The Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong of Umtyrna area in Ri Bhoi district has demanded from the authorities to immediate cancel the registration of over 12,000 acres of land to pave way for the Border Security Force (BSF) to set up its camp in the area.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, spokesman of the Synjuk, Marcus Lapasam said that the RTI report has revealed that illegal registration of land was done by one Deilang Chirup Law since 2016.
The said land was sold to him (Law) by one Monu Arengh at Rs 78 crore. As per the sale deed, the land was shown of falling under three villages which include Pilangku-A, Pilangku-B and Nagrabil under Raid Marwet along the inter-state border with Assam. Raid Marwet falls under the Hima Mylliem.
“We however found that 12 to 13 other villages are also included in the 12, 000 acres of land without the knowledge of the landowners and the dorbar shnongs concerned,†Lapasam said.
He said the Synjuk also strongly opposed the move of Law to sell over 7,000 acres of land to the BSF for setting up of its field firing range.
In May this year, a complaint was also filed before the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for its intervention but no action was taken on the matter. Last year, similar petitions were also submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi and Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem.
Refuting to Arengh’s claim that the land was gifted to him by the three dorbar shnongs since it was a no man’s land, Lapasam said this is absolutely not true because the land is mainly a cultivable land from where majority of the people depend their livelihood.
“We therefore demanded from the state government to intervene and ensure immediate cancellation of this illegal registration of our land,†he said.
Lapasam also threatened that the Synjuk along with the people of the different villages may consider taking the law in their own hands if the authorities concerned chose to forcefully take away their land.
He also alleged the office of the Sub-Registrar Nongpoh of conniving with the agents by issuing the Non encumbrance certificate.
It may be mentioned that the Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Manik Syiem had on March 22, this year sought the approval of the KHADC to grant NOC to Deilang Chirup Law for selling the land to the BSF.
This was after the Deputy Inspector General (PSO) Ftr HQ BSF Guwahati had requested the land for the purpose from the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Revenue Department, Ri Bhoi District on October 31, 2018. However, the KHADC is yet to give its approval to the Hima Mylliem.
In his letter to the KHADC chief, the Acting Syiem had informed that the NOC was already granted by the Syiem of Raid Marwet and also the three dorbar shnongs of Pilangku-A, Pilangku-B and Nagrabil for the setting up of the BSF camp in the land of Deilang.
The Acting Syiem also cited that the land is located along the inter-state border with Assam and there has been illegal encroachment in the jurisdiction of the Hima Mylliem.
According to him, allowing the BSF to set up its camp in the area will help prevent further illegal encroachment by Assam.
The Synjuk alleged that the Hima Mylliem wanted to forcefully evacuate the villagers from their own home land. “But we want to send a clear message that we are already the border security of the Khasi villages along the inter-state boundary with Assam,†he said.