Locked houses during survey prove settlers are illegal: Synjuk

SHILLONG: The Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) has pointed out that the presence of illegal settlers in Sweepers’ Lane (Them Iew Mawlong) was evident from the fact that many residents had locked their houses during the inventory survey of Shillong Municipal Board.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the chairman of the high level committee (HLC), Prestone Tynsong, the general secretary of the Synjuk, R.L. Blah said, “The fact that they shut the doors when the survey was being done shows that they are not genuine residents.
They don’t possess the documents to prove they are employees of the municipal board, which made them hide from the authorities.”
Blah said that if the settlers were genuine, they should not have any qualms in cooperating with the survey.
He strongly condemned the frequent visits of delegations from other parts of the country to the state during and after the unrest, asserting that it was a state subject.
“The National Human Rights Commission visited the state. What did they find on the ground? They found that none of the settlers in Sweepers Lane were assaulted. There were no houses that were burnt down,” Blah said.
“They (NHRC) have seen the ground reality with their own eyes and there is no need for them to come to the state any longer as this is a state subject,” he said.
He also appealed to the public not to pay heed to rumours.
Extending their support for relocation of the settlers, Blah said it would not be appropriate for them to set a deadline to the state government for the relocation and that patience was required.
“The place should not be a residential area but a commercial area. There is congestion and if it is feasible, the road should be widened to make way for double lane,” said.
The Synjuk said Tynsong has assured the organisation that the committee’s report would be clear and transparent to the public.