NONGPOH: Protests against the alleged land acquisition by the Border Security Forces (BSF) at Nagrabil and other adjoining areas grows louder as the villagers of Umtyrnga village on Monday held a meeting with NGO leaders seeking their support at Umtyrnga playground.
The meeting here was attended by top leaders of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), North Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF).
Villagers of Umtyrnga led by its headman, B Khongtyngkut informed the NGO leaders that they have got specific input on the alleged deal between the land agents and the BSF in which an area measuring 7413 acres spanning over 30.08 kilometers was supposed to be handed over to the BSF.
“Though we don’t have land at these areas but our concerned is that most of the agricultural lands of our villagers falls under the proposed land acquisition which was owned by the Raid Marwet, therefore we strongly protest this land acquisition” Khongtyngkut said.
“The agents/landowners had illegally included land belonging to others as well in their map which was allegedly supposed to be handed over to BSF” one of the villagers said during the meeting.
They further informed that the proposed move will affect hundreds of farmers from Umtyrnga village who are engaged in agricultural related activities and betel nut plantation as it is their only source of livelihood.
Meanwhile, KSU NKHD President Ferdynald Kharkamni, FKJGP NKH President B Dhar and RBYF General Secretary, B Marbaniang while speaking at the meeting expressed their support to the villagers and that they will not allow this move to happen.
