JOWAI: A village Dorbar in West Jaintia Hills has sealed a church set up in an area dominated by followers of traditional faith (Niamtre).
The Dorbar Shnong of Iongnoh in West Jaintia Hills has put the church under lock thereby violating the liberty of faith, and depriving those members who belong to the church of their rights, sources said.
The Dorbar Shnong had in the past granted permission in the form of No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Sohmynting circle of Church of God for the construction of the church at the locality called Iaplashaid.
The construction of the church was completed on March 15 last year.
However, on November 22 the same year, the village Dorbar decided to put the church under lock and key.
The media came to know about the incident on Sunday following which a team of media persons visited the village on Monday.
Villagers alleged that the then Rangbah Shnong, Thom Joh and the village Secretary, Mar Shylla presently the Rangbah Shnong of the village had issued the NOC without the knowledge of the Dorbar Shnong.
The villagers from Iaplashaid locality did not raise any objection during the process of construction and even at the time when the church was inaugurated on March 15 last year in the presence of ministers of the Church of God, headman, the village secretary and the former Ummulong MDC, JM Kyndiah.
The Dorbar Shnong held several meetings to discuss the issue, but failed to come out with any specific resolution.
One of the elders said, “We have decided not to allow the setting of the church in our locality as all residents are Niamtre (followers of traditional faith).
It may be mentioned that Iongnoh village where the church is located is within a distance of less than 6 km from Syntu Ksiar and Chyrmang village, however, Iongnoh has been completely neglected in terms of development activities.
The village in the past had allowed setting up of a Presbyterian Church and a school to impart quality education to the villagers particularly the young generation. The Catholic Church also had also setup its church in two localities under the village, but the only locality which failed to accept the church is Iaplashaid, sources added.
