Villagers stage protest in KHADC against removal of Sordar

SHILLONG:  Angry over the decision of the KHADC Executive Committee (EC) to remove the Sordar of Shnat Raid Tynring, CA Diengdoh, to facilitate selling of 80 acres of land of the Shnat Raid Tynring to the State government through the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority, (MUDA) the villagers in large numbers staged protest march to the office of the Council on Monday.
The villagers carrying placards also shouted slogans against Sohryngkham MDC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem.They demanded the immediate re-instatement of Diengdoh as the Sordar of the village. The EC had on March 16 decided to suspend Diengdoh.
A delegation of the protesters also met the KHADC secretary to seek clarification on the issue and set April 5 as the deadline for the KHADC to revoke the suspension of Diengdoh and re-instate him as Sordar of Shnat Raid Tynring.
In the notification issued by the Council, the reason for the suspension of the Sordar was not specified. However, the notification mentioned that the Sordar of Shnat Raid Tynring was removed as per section 9 (3) of the United Khasi Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Chiefs and Headmen) Act, 1959.
Assistant Secretary of Dorbar Shnat Raid Tynring, Richard Nongspung said that the Council has no right to suspend the Sordar since he was unanimously elected by people in a Dorbar in 2009.
Meanwhile, the protesters believed that the Sordar was suspended for opposing the move to sell the land of Shnat Raid Tynring to the government.
“We strongly suspect the sudden removal could be a ploy of some individuals who wanted to facilitate the smooth selling of around 80 acres of community land,” the protesters said.
According to Nongspung, two women, Shimtimai Mylliempdah and Streamlet Mylliempdah were trying to sell 80 acres land of the Shnat Raid Tynring to the State government through the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) but failed to do so because the Sordar along with the people have been opposing the move.
He also suspected that the appointment of Hamlet Mylliempdah as acting Sordar is a plan to issue no objection certificate to the two ladies to sell the 80 acres land of the Shnat Raid Tynring.
The protesters claimed that Mylliempdah was not even a resident of the Shnat Raid Tynring.
Nongrum also questioned the induction of two persons – Domik Kharmalki and Reswel Nongrum into a committee which looks after the affairs of the Dorbar Shnat Raid Tynring.
“Domik is the husband of Shimtimai Mylliempdah while Reswel is the husband of Streamlet Mylliempdah. The induction of these two people has further strengthened the suspicion of the people regarding the removal of C.A. Diengdoh as Sordar,” he said.