Ri Bhoi land owners continue to oppose AR land acquisition

NONGPOH: A delegation of land owners in Ri Bhoi district who are opposing land acquisition by Assam Rifles at Lawbyrwa and Lawpyllun under Raid Mawbuh met additional deputy commissioner D.P Kharsati on Friday.
The affected land owners, who were accompanied by members of the Dorbar Shnong of Lawbyrwa and Lawpyllun and leaders of the Khasi Students Union, North Khasi Hills, submitted a memorandum and land documents of clan Nongbsap to the additional deputy commissioner. A copy of this was forwarded to the Director General of Assam Rifles.
The memorandum submitted here stated that KSU will not allow the region to be fully converted into a military zone as locals “had bitter experiences in the past owing to the unfriendly attitude of military personnel at Laitkor, Umpling and Rangmen”.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, KSU leader Ferdynald Kharkamni said after receiving inputs,  the proposal of the Assam Rifles to acquire land at Lawbyrwa and Lawpyllun, the Union had filed an application seeking details of the deal from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi in which the land owner, S. Nongbsap, had propose to give her 150.654 acres land to Assam Rifles.
Kharkamni said the clan Nongbsap, which is the rightful owner of the land, “is against this deal”. The KSU leader warned of agitation if the district administration failed to cancel this land deal and demanded that Assam Rifles should not acquire land within Ri Bhoi from now on.
Meanwhile, Kaida Nongbsap and Deisimai Nongbsap said the land belonging to S Nongbsap is just a few acres whereas most of the land which was proposed to be acquired by Assam Rifles belongs to them and the clan Nongbsap. The duo however, is strongly against the land deals. Several pressure groups in Ri Bhoi are against this proposed move by Assam Rifles.