PAC says arrest based on police probe, but protestors say MLA innocent
SHILLONG: A few days after former MLA Stanleywiss Rymbai was arrested in connection with the multi-crore land scam, villagers of Umsawkhwan in Ri Bhoi district demonstrated in front of the DGP office demanding immediate release of the former MLA.
A large group of villagers on Friday afternoon held placards and banners in front of the DGP office in protest against Rymbai’s arrest. The former MLA has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody by a local court.
The Head of Umsawkhwan village, H. Nongkseh, said Rymbai was innocent and that their village is the rightful owner of the land under dispute.
According to Nongkseh, it was in 1953 that the village had agreed to hand over the land on the request of the Soil and Conservation Department for an afforestation project.
“The agreement made at that time was after a span of 30 years, the department should return the forest to the Dorbar Shnong,” Nongkseh said adding that this was also agreed in a meeting convened by the then Minister of Soil and Conservation Dr Henry Lamin that the forest be transferred back.
Pul Lyngdoh, chief of the Public Accounts Committee, said on Friday CID will submit the report on the case by the end of February and that it “will clear the air over the payment of Rs 8 crore on the fictitious land deal at Mawpalai afforestation area”.
Several letters requesting the State Government to return the forest was submitted over the years. “It was in 2008-09 that the State Government decided to keep the forest by paying a compensation of Rs 10 crore, which the Dorbar Shnong agreed to,” said the headman.
The headman said the Dorbar Shnong then appointed Rymbai as the power of attorney and the State Government also issued a notification as per the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring the Mawpalai forest.
According to Nongkseh, there was no objection raised to the matter and accordingly compensation of Rs 8 crore was paid to Dorbar Shnong.
“Surprisingly after all this, the State Government all of a sudden claimed that it is the owner of the forest and that the Dorbar Shnong should refund the Rs 8 crore,” he said.
Informing that an appeal was filed in the Meghalaya High Court in 2012, Nongkseh claimed, “The matter was disposed of by the High Court with a direction that the State Government should pay the pending amount of Rs 2 crore.”
Subsequently the State Government filed a money recovery suit and an FIR was also filed by CID. The Dorbar Shnong on this also filed an appeal with the District Session Judge Court at Nongpoh, whose ruling was also in its favour, the headman added. He said that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is also aware that the forest of Mawpalai belongs to the Dorbar Shnong.
Meanwhile, the Headman alleged that members of the Dorbar Shnong did acknowledge the summons by the PAC but when they attended, they were made to wait outside the room where the meeting was held.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said Rymbai was arrested based on the investigation carried out by the State Police Department. “Anyone involved in the embezzlement of public money, it is up to the police to investigate and make necessary arrests and book the persons under relevant sections of the law,” the PAC chief said.
When asked about the role of PAC after the investigation, Lyngdoh said the PAC can only give recommendations. “PAC can give recommendations to the State Government through the State Assembly. It can point out the loopholes/drawbacks if any and enquire on the loopholes. During the Assembly session, we can highlight the loopholes in the Assembly,” he added.