By Our Reporter
WAHLYNGKHAT: The Wahlyngkhat village dorbar in its meeting convened on Monday, unanimously decided to allow the family of Jein Khongwet who was alleged for practising of a witchcraft or in the Khasi believe as ‘men ai ksuid’ to resettle in the village.
The village dorbar convened the meeting on the directive of the Sohra Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ian Swer for ending the stalemate which was lingering for the past two months.
The village dorbar agreed to arrive on settlement after the police had issued an arrest warrant against the Rangbah Shnong Wankloi Khonglam following an FIR lodge by CSWO on the reported ostracizing of the Khongwet family.
The Rangbah Shnong would have been arrested if the he was not granted anticipatory bail by the court.
While addressing the meeting of the village dorbar, SDPO Sohra expresses his happiness that the village dorbar have unanimously taken a wise decision to allow Khongwet and her family members to resettle in the village dorbar.
“No village dorbar has the authority to issue a diktat to ostracize any family. Such conduct on the part of the dorbar is in clear violation of the law,” Swer said.
He also warned that serious action would be initiated against any member of the Dorbar who tried to hurt any member or destroy the property of Khongwet family.
“At the moment, the FIR against the Rangbah Shnong would not be drawn. The police along with the members of the executive committee of the village dorbar would again hold the meeting to review the situation after a month,” SDPO Sohra said while also making it clear that the FIR would be withdrawn only after the police is satisfied that normalcy has returned in the village.
Later, Rangbah Shnong said that Dorbar Shnong was never involved in the attack against the family even as denying that the village dorbar took the decision to ostracize the family.
On February 23 last, Jein Khongwet and her family were attacked by the resident of the village on the allegation that she was practicising witchcraft.
On the following day, the village dorbar unanimously resolved to give a 24 hour deadline to the family to leave the village.
Earlier, a similar case took place in Mawlai Phudmuri on April 2011, where the members of family nearly lost their life following an attack by an angry mob on the suspect that the family is practising witchcraft.
A month after this incident, CSWO filed before East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang against the village dorbar for ostracising the family.