By Toki Blah
The caption of this article, “To Catch a Thief” is the title of a 1955 American romantic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I am using this heading to catch the reader’s attention. Nor is the title of this Op Ed in any way a subtle reference to the popular proverb on the subject. I want to clarify that’s not the intention. The real direction of this article is to attract the attention of the public that, “Hey, look we have caught some big time thieves in the act. What do we do with them?” That is the whole purpose of this write-up and I think we should get down to the nitty gritty of it without any further ado.
The story goes like this. On May 22, 2014 a historic agreement was signed between the KHADC and the Office of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem to convert the 1,700 acres forest at Mawtawar and Mawpat, formerly known as the Law Syiem into a Law Adong ( traditional protected forest concept of the ancient Khasis on how to preserve the environment for the enjoyment of posterity) and a commemorative plaque was erected at the edge of the forest as additional witness to this memorable Act. Now as per provisions of Para 3 (1.ii) of the 6th Schedule the above agreement can now be interpreted as a Law of the KHADC. An Act primarily based on ancient and customary practices of the Khasis on preserving the Environment. A custom the KHADC is mandated by the 6th Schedule to protect and safeguard.
Then on July 16, 2025, The Shillong Times came out with a Front Page Breaking Story of some MLAs having been allocated plots in this very forest that was declared protected in 2014. Now this is momentous news of a rip-off by VIPs that should hold the interest of every citizen of Shillong. Unfortunately only sporadic voices of protest have risen . Lets try and see why?
Now who was the first person who uncovered this story? A recent video shows that it was Ardent Basaiawmoit, President of the VPP and former CEM KHADC who had visited the forest and found this breach of the KHADC Law and who first exposed it to the public. Now Basaiawmoit is a politician; he was the then CEM KHADC, who together with the then Syiem of Mylliem in 2014 signed the agreement and definitely he will try to make political capital out of this discovery. Its his privilege to do so! There’s nothing wrong with that? The fact however remains that he has exposed a crime being committed against the people and the Khasi community. That a politician has uncovered a crime should not make us insensitive and numb to the fact that an offence has been committed against the people. Let us not be duped by our abhorrence to politicians and ignore the fact that a land grab has taken place at the cost of the present society and of generations to come.
As of now it appears that only the tip of the iceberg has been exposed. Yet from whatever little has been made public it is clear there is the existence of a land grab mafia. Yes a mafia or a criminal syndicate out to sell and betray the public for that proverbial 30 pieces of silver. The concern, worry and unease springs from the realization that this mafia comprises our own elected representatives acting in cahoots with supposedly respected Traditional Heads. Now I am apolitical and belong to no political party nor does any political ideology hold any attraction for me. I am however an ardent devotee and champion of our future generations. My stand today is to fight for their cause. A cause it seems some people have already sold to the highest bidder.
At this stage some might question: Toki Blah, this is not the first time such surreptitious selling of public property has taken place. It has happened before. We all know the mentality of our leaders and their eagerness to make a quick, easy buck on the sly. What is so different this time that we should all get excited about it?” Let me clarify that this time there is a big difference. We the public, who have been so disgusted with the corruption and filthy shenanigans of people in power or the “High Level” as we call them, have never really managed to catch anyone in the act. This time those involved with the selling of public property have apparently been caught with “their hands in the till”. Red handed! The documents registering the Act converting the Law Syiem into a Law Adong had been registered and are available in both the Offices of the Syiem of Mylliem and the KHADC. Therefore no one can play the card of sweet ignorance and say they didn’t know. That will not suffice. A photo of the now missing plaque commemorating the event is also available as evidence. Thieves, high level and powerful thugs, gangsters and looters of community resources and rights have been exposed.
When some petty thieves are caught we never hesitate to hand them over to the police. So why the hesitation this time? Everyone is equal before the Law. The Law should take its course. It is our duty as citizens to draw the attention of the Law that a crime has been committed by raising the maximum hue and cry.
Another aspect of this land grab by the rich and the powerful also needs to be highlighted. The ST report of July 16 alleges that certain MLAs have been allotted plots of land in the law Adong. Most probably these high profile MLAs must have paid money for these illegal plots. The fact however remains that the property so purchased is stolen property, stolen from the community ( U Khun U Hajar). Now it will be of public interest to know as to what the law of the country has to say about receivers or purchasers of stolen property. Section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS the new law that has replaced the IPC), provides:- “Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, the possession whereof he knows or has reason to believe to have been transferred by the commission of dacoity, or dishonestly receives from a person property which he knows or has reason to believe to have been stolen, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.” It further states that, “Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Interesting indeed as many of us believe that it needs to be vigorously applied here in our state. I do hope that those MLAs who did purchase plots in the Law Adong, whoever they are, also find this piece of information absorbing and of interest!
In conclusion, one is deeply saddened and frustrated with the deep societal conspiratorial silence that has prevailed since the story broke on July 16 last. God only knows why we fail to speak out for the future of our children. I would like to add one more aspect to the negative impact the above plunder is likely to have. Why has Government with its flagship Smart City Project failed to take note that this Law Adong at Mawpat and Mawtawar forms the green belt and green lungs between Old and New Shillong? It should be fiercely protected to provide “Environmental smartness” like Central Park of New York City. What’s so smart if we fail to protect the City’s environment? Why has the Urban Affairs Deptt failed to see this danger and file an immediate PIL on the matter? It defies logic. Or am I the only naïve one here? Here I join Patricia Mukhim in calling for High Court intervention to save our forests and green environment from the greedy covetous eyes of so called leaders of our society.
I pray for some conscience driven Court in the State to take it upon itself to take suo-moto cognition of the crime. NGT, for all its potential towards environmental protection, somehow invokes a sense of spiritual desolation and dryness for the likes of the common man to approach. A small isolated case like the one under discussion might not even stir the embers of empathy in the NGT. So we turn to the High Court of Meghalaya. Could it sou moto take up this singular case, with the wisdom of our ancients “Da ka nia ka jutang” but within a fixed dateline? A message needs to be sent that Meghalaya can no longer take this nonsense of pilfering of community resources by the very institutions and individuals meant to protect such resources.
People who believe that political power entitles them to steal, abuse and purloin public property need to be taught a lesson. An example has to be set. Can we use this sordid episode to bring back ethical governance in our state? Meghalaya and its people will be forever grateful.