Residents evicted as Govt clears land for Defence establishment
SHILLONG: In an early morning drive, over 100 police personnel accompanied by magistrates rushed to Nongsder under Umroi constituency in Ri-Bhoi district on Tuesday and demolished five houses, allegedly without any prior notice.
It is alleged that the police personnel and the magistrates gave just five minutes to the residents to vacate their homes and take away all belongings and warned that non compliance would make the authorities forcefully demolish their homes.
It is alleged that the police personnel arrived in a fleet of cars numbering over 26, along with magistrates at 5 AM. A JCB was tagged along by the authorities without permission from the village heads.
On reaching the site, they ordered the residents of the five households to leave immediately and onlookers said the authorities demolished the houses in one hour’s time only.
Sources said the land had been purchased by the State government with the intention of handing it over to the Defence forces stationed at Rangmen Cantontment, Umroi in lieu of the land the Defence authorities have handed over for expansion of the Umroi Airport.
The five homes belong to Hem Bahadur Chettri, Kalpana Chettri, Narain Sharma, Bhim Chettri and Maya Chettri, all of whom have been residing in the village for the last 25-30 years.
As a temporary relief to the affected families, the Nongsder village authorities offered them shelter in the village community hall and the football ground of the village at Block-5.
While speaking to reporters, the victims said, “We were not aware of the development. It is while we were sleeping that we heard voices ordering us to come out of our homes.”
“They did not allow us to speak but just rammed the JCB into our homes,” they claimed.
“It was on April 29 that the owner, Stied Dkhar, had told us to leave within five days. At least four or five months’ notice should have been given to enable us to find another place. We are finding difficult as to where do we go and take our children,” the affected residents said. Headman of the village, Welcome Shangpliang, expressed shock at the high handedness of the district administration.
“We are saddened as they are tenants and have been living in the village for the past 30 years. They did not allow anyone to speak but went on demolishing their homes,” he said.
“We are at a loss as to their accommodation. But we will find ways and means for them to stay in the village temporarily,” the headman added.