By Sannio Casperior Siangshai
JOWAI: Despite the High Court order issued against a group of people from Samasi village restraining them from entering the Mynthing village forest, there were a series of allegation that a group of Samasi villagers and coal businessmen failed to honour the court orders.
The Dorbar shnong of Mynthning alleged that people from Samasi did not honour any Court orders be it of the lower court or the High Court. “They always come in to our forest land and assault our people besides damaging belongings.
According to the headman, W Palsin, on April 10, a group of people from Samasi led by Hosta Salahe, Begin Paslein and Jial Paslein and others came to Mynthing village Forest and assaulted many of the coal labourers working on behalf of the Mynthing Dorbar shnong in the forest area.
“They came, assaulted and threatened every coal labourer working in the forest land on our behalf. They also served a verbal ‘quit notice’ to them.”, said Paslein adding that they (Samasi village people) attacked and tried to kill the secretary but the police personnel intervened and his life was saved.
The village elders further informed that they do not even care the police personnel camping in Mynthning village.
Police personnel (Battalion) are camping in Mynthning village since 2010 as directed by the High Court in order to protect the live and properties of the people of Mynthning village.
According to the village dorbar, the people of Mynthning village have been the right owners of the Khlaw Shnong or Forest land since time immemorial.
Mynthing village has a proved with valid documents issued by the JHADC and other competent authority.
Even the Presiding Officer of the Subordinate District Council Court, Jowai has issued an absolute injunction order dated December 07, 2012 in favour of Mynthning village. The Samasi people filed another petition to the honorable High Court but their petition prayer to stay the Distict Council Court order was rejected.
Instead, the High Court passed another order (dated 21-03-2013) which stated, they party in possession (Mynthning village) shall continued to be in the position and such position shall not be disturbed till next date.
“Despite the court order, they always claimed that they did not receive the copy of the court order”, the Rangbah shnong said.
“By claiming that way, they can come and commits various kinds of criminal activities in the village forest area”, he said.
People of Mynthning village also alleged that Samasi people have engaged goons both Khasi-Pnar and outsiders to commit various crimes in the area just to create a fear psychosis amongst the people so that they could easily grab the entire forest land.
Surprisingly, despite various criminal complaints lodged against them, Police could not make any arrests as they always appeared in the Police Station with a bail in their hand.
The village dorbar, particularly the responsive people- the Rangbah Shnong and the Secretary appealed to the concerned authorities to look in to the matter seriously so that justice be given to the victims and the culprits be punished.