SHILLONG: The traditional heads of Raid Majai have accused the Hima Sohra of seizing majority of the land from tribal Khasis to non-tribals.
Speaking at a gathering which was attended by Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) CEM HS Shylla, Sordar of Majai, Ekhel Marwein said the Hima Sohra violated the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1972.
“The Hima Sohra has sidelined the traditional leaders of Raid Majai and we are not aware of the activities of Hima Sohra,” he said.
Further, he said Hima Sohra also authorized the non-tribals as “Mulor” (headman) to issue residential certificates which is against the traditional custom of the Khasi community.
“The Hima Sohra also issued NOC to a non-tribal from Bihar to show that he is a resident of Meghalaya and the persons would also be granted a trading license,” he alleged.
After the local Khasis opposed the activities of the Hima Sohra, the Hima Sohra would threaten them with an FIR.
Marwein has urged the KHADC to upgrade the Raid Majai to Elaka.
Speaking to reporters, Marwein said Raid Majai is not only struggling with the issue of land being seized but also of the village names under Raid Majai being replaced with non-Khasi names such as Nayabasti etc.
Asked, he said, “About 75 per cent of people living here are non-tribals. Most of the lands are being dominated by non-tribals.”
He went on to allege that the Hima Sohra has signed an agreement with Rocky Dhar over a land for boulder mining. “The Dorbar Raid is not aware of the agreement,” Marwein said
Meanwhile, KHADC CEM HS Shylla said the KHADC has taken charge of Raid Majai from January 22, 2019.
Terming the chiefs (Syiem) of Hima Sohra as leeches, Shylla lambasted Hima Sohra, state government and local MLA who is also the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Donkupar Roy.
“As chiefs (Syiem), they should prevent suppression, they have instead become leeches,” he said.
He went on to say that Majai will be the first target of Bangladeshis especially with the Center pushing for the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Bill.
“It is only the Inner Line Permit (ILP) that will protect the people,” he said.
He took the opportunity to slam the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Shylla and Sangma have different views on ILP.
The KHADC passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Inner Line as adopted from the Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018 last year. However, Sangma said ILP does not fall within the purview of the KHADC.
At the meeting, Shylla said, “We have an ignorant CM who does not know much about laws. We are sad to get a CM who does not know that the District Council can also make laws on ILP. He (Sangma) can speak fluent English but does not know much about laws.”
Demanding the local MLA, Roy, to step down, Shylla went on to criticize that Roy is not serious of the chaos in his own constituency.
Stating that people of the state are not politically conscious, he said, “When elections arrive, people go to vote unknowingly.”
