SHILLONG: A ‘doomsday’ prophecy has prompted two Government employees and three teachers in a village in West Khasi Hills to quit their jobs and wait for the end of the world for the last two years.
The matter came to light after some villagers on Wednesday informed media persons about the strange behaviour of the concerned people.
Altogether nine families from Nongthliew village under Mairang Block in West Khasi Hills District secluded themselves after a preacher appeared two years ago and told the people about the futility of holding on to wealth, jobs and cash as the world will come to an end anytime.
Literally believing the words of the ‘Prophet’, two Government employees and three teachers among the nine families quit their jobs.
The nine families also decided not to send their children to schools or accept items under Public Distribution System.
The headman of the village, Spotting Mawlong said on Wednesday that the families who are waiting for the end of the world belonged to a Christian denomination.
“The nine families withdrew money from their banks, refused to accept PDS items including kerosene and rice and threw away the EPIC cards as they thought that the end of the world is imminent,” the headman said.
According to the headman, it was after the unidentified preacher from Mawlangthriang predicted about the end of the world and also about the meaningless existence on earth that the nine families began acting strangely, waiting for the Apocalypse.
According to the headman, the nine families have refused to go to Church as they believed in internal prayers in their homes even after the intervention of village elders and church members.
“They only told us that they trust in the Holy Spirit after we tried to intervene,” the headman said
