Dorbar land illegally handed over to migrant: HYC

SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep National Council (HYC) Raid Nongtung circle has alleged that the Dorbar Shnong of Mawlasnai illegally transferred the Dorbar land in 1999 to one Tilku Bahadur, resident of Umwang, in violation of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, HYC circle president Hercules Suting said, “The village heads went hand-in-glove with the person who is a migrant and handed him over the documents of the land at Mawlasnai covering an area of 600 sq.ft. They did not convene a village Dorbar before doing so.”
He produced a copy of the land document which bears the seal of the Dorbar Shnong Mawlasnai, which stated that from August 28, 1999, the Dorbar Shnong led by the secretary (L) F. Shadap and former Sordar L. Makdoh, have handed him the land and as per the land document it states that Tilku Bahadur is authorized to transfer the land to the future generations. Further the document states that he must open a shop in the area as it is a commercial area (Iew) and if found that he is unable to open the shop then they will be compelled to take over the land from him.
The land document stated, “If there are complaints against you then the responsibility falls upon the Dorbar Shnong.” The HYC president said that the organization has closed down the shop and have urged him and the Sordar to produce the documents related to the sale of land. “The present Sordar Peter Thongni has downplayed the matter and does not want to reveal any of the papers relating to the land transfer. He even said that the matter cannot be pursued as it took place a long time back and it was only an agreement,” said Suting. The HYC stated that it will take up the matter with the KHADC and the Syiem of Hima Khyrim.