NONGSTOIN: Sordar of the Hima Raid Mynsaw Hindro Samakha has alleged that one Pailos Syiemlieh, a resident of Mawlan B village near the disputed area of Langpih has decided to sell five sq km of his land to the Assam Government, after being enticed by the neighbouring state to sell his land in lieu of compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Samakha alleged that the Assam Government was intending to set up a Battalion camp at Mawlan B and a team of Assam officials were scheduled to pay a visit to the village on Monday, but failed to turn up.
Samakha stated that he was yet to get a formal complaint from the villagers, who he claimed, were opposed to the idea of selling their land to Assam. “I am yet to receive a complaint from residents of Mawlan B against Pailos’ proposed deal with the Assam Government. Once the people come to me with the complaint, I will lodge an FIR against Pailos.”
Mawlan B village has 46 households.
Just weeks earlier, The Shillong Times had reported about the reckless encroachment by residents of Assam at Langpih area. The banned militant outfit HNLC had responded to the news item and had issued a quit notice to all the non indigenous people residing in the area.
Ironically, despite the spate of encroachments over the years, fast unto death calls, death of four persons at Langpih at the hands of Assam police personnel and innumerous squabbles and regular brawls between the people of Meghalaya and Assam at Langpih, the Government of Meghalaya is yet to utter a word of confirmation on whether Langpih was actually a part of Meghalaya.
Frustrated residents of Langpih have questioned the Meghalaya Government’s silence on the contentious issue and wanted to know whether the stoic indifference could be an admission of the fact that Langpih belongs to Assam.