Syiemlieh clan demands removal of corrupt chief

SHILLONG: The Syiemlieh Clan (Sawkpoh) under the Hima Maharam Syiemship has demanded suspension or removal of their chief Niandro Syiemiong for allegedly misusing funds of the Hima Maharam.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Phanles Syiemlieh, joint secretary of the Syiemlieh (Sawkpoh Maharam) clan, urged the KHADC to look into the matter and appoint an acting Syiem of Hima Maharam.
He said the Syiemlieh clan has filed an RTI which revealed that Syiemiong has misused funds and land allegedly belonging to Hima Maharam.
“As per the RTI findings, the Hima Maharam under Syiemiong has never paid the full amount of 1:8 shares to the KHADC and instead used to send a letter to the EC of the Council to exempt it to pay for the same,” he added.
However, the audit reports of the Hima in which Syiemiong claimed that for 2007-2008 he had paid the 1/8 share to the Council, which amounts to Rs 79,576, for the year 2008-2009 an amount of Rs 70,900, Rs 68,200 was paid for the year 2009-2010, again an amount of Rs 81,526.00 for 2010-2011 was paid.
Commenting on the high-handedness of the Syiem of Hima Maharam, Phanles said that Syiemiong forcefully removed some members of the executive dorbar of Hima Maharam.
Phanles alleged that Syiemiong gave away parts of land to the State Government. “Syiemiong gave away a portion of land belonging to the Hima at Panchiring to the Education Department as a gift deed on July 31, 2010, and the agreement paper also contains his and government officials’ signatures,” he said.
Another land at Ranikor was sold to the police department for building Ranikor police station. It is also alleged that Syiemiong sold land to other government departments, including Tourism, Health and Animal and Husbandry without the knowledge of the office of the Hima Maharam and Dorbar Pyllun.