SHILLONG, Jan 10: Following an alleged attack on the office-bearers of the Dorbar Shnong, the Waheh Shnong (headman) of Lumbangla village Heiplanmi Lyngdoh on Monday raised a complaint with East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner against four individuals.
As per reports, on January 2, the four individuals, identified as Syrpai Sukhlain of Shnong Thymme (Nongkhlieh), Ebor Sukhlian and Tre Sukhlain of Moolasngi village and Pynshngain Sukhlain of Khaidong village, had attacked the office-bearers of the Dorbar Shnong with an iron rod and wooden stick.
Describing the incident, Lyngdoh said, “All the four people had come to the village in a white gypsy and attacked the office-bearers. Unfortunately, the secretary of the village dorbar, Niwan Langchiang, was badly injured in the incident and was taken to hospital while the rest of the office-bearers escaped unharmed as they managed to flee into the jungle.”
As per his statement, the accused had also allegedly threatened the members of the village Dorbar and the locals with dire consequences.
The headman informed that a case against the four individuals has been registered. “In this regard, the Dorbar Shnong has also filed the complaint before the Officer in-charge of the Saipung Police station, East Jaintia Hills District on January 4,” he said.
Reportedly, it is not the first time that the armed miscreants had entered the village looking for representatives from the Dorbar Shnong.
According to the headman, the accused were also seen by the villagers at around 10 pm on December 22 last year in the same white gypsy (ML 04 9390) allegedly carrying iron rod and some other weapons with them, looking for the village Dorbar representatives and reportedly threatening to kill them.
“Fortunately, the village representatives went into hiding since they had the apprehension that such circumstances would be repeated as the culprits were not arrested, so they were hiding in the jungle to save their lives. Thereafter, an FIR was filed over this latest incident on December 29 last year before the Officer in-charge of the Saipung Police Station,” he said.
Talking about the alleged motives of the miscreants, Lyngdoh informed that it goes back to the time when the former Waheh Shnong, Nilan Paslein, issued an NOC to one, Syrpai Sukhlain, in order to help the latter establish a coke factory at Lumbangla village, Elaka Nongkhleih, without the knowledge of the Durbar Shnong. However, he was subsequently terminated from his position, leading to the withdrawal of the NOC.
“In view of this reason, Syrpai Sukhlain, along with his gangs, threatened to attack the representatives of the Lumbangla village,” the village headman said.
The free roaming of these individuals in and around Lumbangla village has been the cause of much concern and insecurity as the Dorbar Shnong representatives and villagers are in a constant fear of being attacked again, the headman stated.
Urging the DC to look into the matter and take appropriate action, he said, “We urged upon the Deputy Commissioner to direct the police to arrest the culprits and put them in jail.”
Lyngdoh also said that lest no action is initiated against the culprits, the Dorbar Shnong will be compelled to approach higher authorities.