From Our Correspondent
MAWKYRWAT, Aug 13: The Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) of Ranikor Civil Sub-Division has postponed the joint inspection of land near the Mula River in South West Khasi Hills district, intended for the establishment of the Border Security Force (BSF) Battalion Headquarters.
According to a letter from the Additional Deputy Commissioner in charge of Ranikor Civil Sub-Division to Pawan Kumar, Second-in-Command of the 01 Bn BSF, Office of the Commandant, Dhanakgre, Tura, West Garo Hills, and to Niandro Syiemiong, Syiem of Hima Maharam, the SDO (Civil) informed that the inspection of the ‘Balat-Ranikor Raid Land’ under the possession of the Syiem and Dorbar of Hima Maharam, originally scheduled for August 14 at 12 noon, has been postponed. The next date for the joint inspection will be communicated later.
The postponement comes a day after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), South West Khasi Hills, expressed strong opposition to the Dorbar Hima’s decision to allocate a large portion of agricultural land to the BSF for setting up a military camp near the Mula River, an area with significant tourism potential due to its natural beauty and nearby waterfalls.
KSU South West Khasi Hills District president, Forwardman Nongrem, warned the Syiem and Dorbar Hima that “the land of the Hima does not belong to any individual and the Syiem and the Dorbar Hima are merely the custodians and have no right to do whatever they want.”
The KSU also cautioned that if the decision proceeds, stern action will be taken along with the residents of Hima Maharam.
The Union further suggested that if the BSF must be allocated land, it should be land belonging to the Hima located near the Indo-Bangladesh border, not agricultural land cultivated by locals who depend on it for their livelihood.
Nongrem also informed that the Union will hold a meeting on August 20, 2025, at Photkroh village to deliberate on the Dorbar Hima’s decision to sell agricultural land to the BSF. The KSU has invited village leaders, farmers, youth and women’s organisations, and other pressure groups to participate in the meeting.