Shallang resident offers land for camp
NONGSTOIN: The KSU West Khasi Hills district unit has raised its objection to a proposal by the BSF to set up a camp at Nongstoin and has instead asked the West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner to ask the BSF to set up their camp at Shallang area bordering Garo Hills.
Soon after receiving information on Thursday that BSF officials had come to Nongstoin to meet the deputy commissioner to discuss the site for setting up their base, KSU members led by their president J.F. Nongsiang rushed to the DC’s Office to discuss the matter.
During the discussion, the KSU chief pointed out that BSF has selected a site at Pyndengrei village near the bypass on NH 44 (E).
Expressing strong opposition to the move, the KSU urged the deputy commissioner to designate a site somewhere in Shallang area bordering Garo Hills for the BSF camp.
“We are opposed to the BSF camp in the heart of Nongstoin town since we do not see any justification in having a camp of a paramilitary force in a peaceful area like Nongstoin where minor crimes were easily handle by police,” the KSU president said.
The DC, on his part, asked the members of the Union not to block any development activity initiated by either the State or the Central government.
Nongsiang argued that local residents would not benefit from the BSF camp but would instead be subjected to a feeling of insecurity.
Incidentally, James Sohbar, a local resident of Shallang, has volunteered to give his land for the BSF camp if the DC chooses to accept his offer.
Asked about the reason behind his purported ‘generosity’, the local resident said the presence of a BSF base at Shallang would arrest crimes and eradicate militant activities from the region.
The resident has already met DC and requested him to consider Shallang instead of Nongstoin as the location of the proposed BSF base.