NONGPOH, Dec 17: A community hall of a border village in Ri Bhoi under Jirang Constituency called Umsen was closed down for almost two months now due to the alleged interference of a non-tribal community into the affairs of the village.
Secretary of the village, John Warlarpih, informed that the interference allegedly begun in the beginning of 2009 after the demise of the village headman (L) Paulus Warlarpih. He also informed that the present population of Khasis in the village comprises only 20 houses, while the number of the non-tribal people’s houses has risen to 30.
Warlarpih also alleged that in the past two months, the majority community had tried all means to obtain the leadership of the village and also approached the traditional head of Raid Marwet, Ken Syiem, to get a Sanad Rangbah Shnong (headman certificate).
Warlarpih also expressed disappointment with the traditional head of Raid Marwet, who allegedly succumbed to the “tactics” of the non-tribal community and issued the headman certificate to one Gorjon Rongsal, “which is totally against the traditional customary practices of the Khasis”.
He further elucidated that a delegation of the Khasis have met the traditional head urging him to revoke the certificate and issue one to a local Khasi from the village instead.
“Albeit the traditional head has verbally informed us about cancelling the said Sanad, however it seems nothing has been done so far, which is why we were compelled to close down the community hall for almost two months now,” Warlarpih said.
Meanwhile, members of the Hynniewtrep National Achik Movement (HANM) Ri Bhoi District, during a visit to Umsen village, expressed concern and condemnation over the incident.
Reacting on the issuance of the Sanad, the organisation said that the traditional head was going against the practices of the Khasis.
It demanded of the traditional head of Raid Marwet to revoke the Sanad and conduct fresh election for the headman’s post under the condition that only Khasis should be elected to this post.