Beneficiaries of land acquisition allege embezzlement

SHILLONG: Beneficiaries of land acquisition at Diengpasoh meant for Shillong by pass, have alleged the Sordar and Secretary of the area of fraudulently withdrawing funds to the tune of over Rs 29 lakh.
Addressing media persons here on Friday, a resident of Diengpasoh, Widalin Kharbuli said that the people of the area seek justice as they have till date not received the compensation for the Raid land acquired by the State Government for construction of the Shillong by-pass despite the fact that the Deputy Commissioner has released the amount sanctioned by the government. Following the allegations, out of Rs 29 lakh, the Sordar of Diengpasoh, Maswell Kharumnuid and secretary, Raymond Mawthoh returned Rs 15 lakh.
However, after the Sordar was questioned on the remaining amount, he informed the residents that some more land was acquired from private land owners apart from the Raid land after spending the remaining amount.
The residents claimed that  Kharumnuid and Mawthoh and the then project director of NHAI, D. Khongrymmai, surveyed the Raid Land and an agreement was made to compensate the residents for the acquired land.
The residents had met the Deputy Commissioner P.S. Dkhar to apprise him of the matter on February 2. But, he could not intervene as it was an internal matter.
The aggrieved residents added that a meeting will be convened to highlight the people on the present chaos due to the financial misappropriation by the village heads.