SHILLONG: The Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) criticised the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, PS Dkhar for refusing to speak with them
Stating that the DC called them for a meeting, CCIB secretary Kmen Myrchiang said that the DC called only the Sordars and that too selectively even as Myrchaing pointed out that Sordars are members of the CCIB. “It shows that the DC is trying to bring in a Divide and Rule policy. He wants to divide the Sordar and rule over them,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Expressing disappointment that the members of the CCIB could not get a chance to speak with him, he said, “It shows that the DC is apprehensive to speak with the CCIB. The CCIB stands firm on the need to clearly demarcate/resolve the boundary of the state and it is not against fencing.” He reiterated that the fencing should be from the zero line so that there will not be a loss of land to Bangladesh.
Myrchiang pointed to an incident during a hearing on September 14, this year where they tried to seek an RTI on international norms and maps etc.
“The survey department of the DC does not have the records. The DC said that he cannot give. He went on to say that he can say and do whatever he wishes,” he alleged.
On the other hand, he alleged that there are some Sordars who have accepted the compensation and fencing but then they don’t know that a number of residents appeal that a many parts of their land will be lost to Bangladesh.
Myrchiang questioned the intention of the state government to invoke the Section 40 of Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2015, which is an urgency clause.
“On what grounds the state government through the DC invoke the urgency clause, which shows if there is wars etc they can invoke so, but there is no war so far in state or the border areas?” he asked.
He added that the state government intends to by-pass the district council, who told them that the KHADC has not issued NOC to the concerned state government departments for fencing as people’s land are also involved. “On the part of the KHADC, no green signal was given and it is against the custom of the tribals.
