NONGPOH, Feb 14: Soon after being blacklisted by the Shillong Press Club, civil society organisation called Meghalaya People’s Social Organisation (MPSO) is now under fire for their alleged involvement in a case of land encroachment. The charges were levelled by four land owners from Pilangkata in Ri-Bhoi district.
The four land owners — a Garo lady and three Naga women — have alleged that their land at Pilangkata has been illegally encroached by one Kaikha Saprina of Pillangkata with the backing of the MPSO.
The three Naga women — R Martha, K Tunyi and KV Rio — said that they have bought a plot of land measuring around 45 bigha from the Pillangkata Village Council and Gita Sangma in the year 2012 through proper channels and with legal documentation.
However, for the past two years due to the pandemic, they could not visit their land. Later, they learned that Kaikha Saprina had already started construction work of a building on their plot of land.
On the other hand, the other landowner, Lina Momin, informed that the land which she owns was put up as collateral with Kaikha Saprina by her mother for RS 20,000 for her treatment. But despite the money having been returned, Saprina refused to hand over the said land, and instead illegally encroached on the plot measuring around 1,300 square feet.
The landowners also informed that when an attempt was made discuss the issue, Kaikha Saprina allegedly threatened them with the support of the MPSO.
Meanwhile, a woman from Abri village, Sarimina Marak, along with the village headman, Pobitro K Sangma, while speaking to media persons, alleged that in 2019, Kaikha Saprina had allegedly donated a plot of land to Abri village with the intent to distribute the said land to the homeless and underprivileged families of the village.
But interestingly, in 2020, Sarimina Marak alleged that Kaikha Saprina had sold the same plot of land which had been donated to Abri village to MPSO leader Christina Mukhim.
Since Mukhim was unable to avail the no objection certificate (NOC) from Abri village leaders, it was said that she approached the Upper Jorbil village leaders for the NOC and registered it at Upper Jorbil village. They also alleged that the duo, Kaikha Saprina and Christina Mukhim also erected a signboard showing that the plot of land falls under Jorbil village, when the plot of land actually falls under the jurisdiction of Abri village.
However, they have condemned the traditional head of Raid Marwet, Ken Syiem, for issuing dubious NOC to Kaikha Saprina in regard to the same land which the latter had already donated to Abri village.
The aggrieved land owners have urged the traditional head of Raid Marwet to conduct an enquiry into the matter and take a proper decision to sort out all disputes.