Non-tribals chased out of Sohra poll office

SHILLONG: Hundreds of non-tribals who came to submit their applications for enrolment in the electoral rolls on Monday were chased out by the members of some pressure groups from the office of Sub-Divisional Officer, Sohra.
This is for the second time such an incident took place at Sohra in the past few weeks.
These pressure groups are opposing the enrolment drive since the authorities have not involved the traditional bodies for verification and identification of people who came for enrolment.
Meanwhile, KSU Environment Secretary J Marbaniang said that the different pressure groups decided to visit the office after they were informed that the SDO had refused to accept their request to stop the ongoing enrolment drive.
Nongrum clarifies: The CEM of  KHADC  Adelbert  Nongrum  and a delegation met the SDO Sohra at his residence  on Friday to assess the situation following reports that the office of the SDO are trying to  register the names of  more than 2,000 dubious persons in the voters’  list.
However, Nongrum said on Monday that the response from the SDO was that out of the 600 people who turned up recently, names of only 30 persons were examined.
Nongrum  also rubbished the allegations that  he went out of his way to meet the SDO, Sohra at his residence breaking the protocol.
“Since the SDO  was not in the office, we called him to come to the office, but as the SDO was not keeping well, we have decided to meet him at his residence since the  matter was important, and there is no violation of protocol in this regard as the official was suffering from illness”, Nongrum said.