From Our Correspondent
JOWAI, Aug 2: The Dkhar Clan of East Jaintia Hills district unit on Friday issued summons to a non-tribal individual who allegedly claimed to be a member of the Dkhar clan, a move that has shocked the entire clan and raised serious questions about how a person from outside Meghalaya could claim affiliation with a local tribal lineage.
Upon questioning, the individual confessed that he had been inducted into the Dkhar clan by the late village head of Umsatai, Lieh Lyngdoh, while the latter was still alive and serving in his post.
The man revealed that his original name was Jete Thymbo, which was later changed to Lyngka Dkhar. What surprised clan members further was that his father’s name had also been altered to carry the Lyngdoh clan name.
Speaking on the matter, Shaniah Skem Dkhar, vice president of the Dkhar Clan (East Jaintia Hills), issued a strong warning to all village heads, urging them to thoroughly verify and investigate the origins of any non-locals before issuing official documents. “This is especially important when dealing with people from outside the state,” he cautioned.
The Dkhar Clan has, meanwhile, given the individual and his wife a three-month deadline to resolve the issue and fully withdraw the false claim of clan affiliation.
