SHILLONG: Former deputy chief minister and UDP leader Bindo M Lanong is of the opinion that the Balakhawa case should be transferred to the Nongpoh Court from Assam.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lanong said that the location of the house of the Secretary of Nongspung Syiemship, Michael Warjri, which was ransacked by miscreants at New Balakhawa, falls within the jurisdiction of the Nongpoh District Court in Ri-Bhoi and hence the case should be transferred and tried in Nongpoh court.
Lanong also expresses surprise at the circumstances under which Assam police had managed to reach the place of occurrence and were able to save Warjri from the mob’s fury.
“This incident on the Assam-Meghalaya border should be another eye opener and the two states should resolve the contentious issue at the earliest. Assam should be reminded that the age-old traditional institutions in Meghalaya maintain their respective cultural and traditional subjects under the Sixth Schedule, whereas the state government is the sole of authority to parley and settle the vexed boundary issue and any other matter concerning acquisition or transfer of land,” he said.
Lanong recalled that Warjri had earlier complained against the construction of internal link roads within the area under Hima Nongspung by Assam government after which a top official from Assam had stated before the court that the work had been stopped.
“The complainant (Warjri) had petitioned the High Court with contempt notice against the Assam official for making false statement, while works still continue. The High Court, according to the Secretary, had issued notice to the said top official to appear personally in court sometime this month”, Lanong said, while adding that the state government should automatically enter as a party in the case.
Meanwhile, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun has said he will follow up on the allegations made against Syiem of Hima Nongspung Patrick Syiemiong and Secretary of the Hima Michael Warjri.
Speaking to a section of reporters here on Tuesday, the legislator said he would ascertain the veracity of the allegations that a No Objection Certificate (NoC) was issued by the Syiem and the secretary.
“I have not seen anything on paper. I think if they have issued an NoC then there must be some document to substantiate the allegations. On my part as an MLA, I have to find out about it,” he said.
Sohtun added that he will contact the concerned MLA from Assam to find out whether there was any agreement with the Hima Nongspung for permission to build any road by the Assam government under the PMGSY scheme in the area. Sohtun maintained that New Balakhawa under Jirang constituency in Ri-Bhoi district does not fall under the 12 areas of difference and that it belongs purely to Meghalaya.
“The residents of the area accept that they are from Meghalaya and there is no doubt about it,” he said adding that he will make sure there will not be issues of encroachment in New Balakhawa.
He said the state government is serious about taking up development activities in the border areas adding there are PMGSY schemes that have been allotted to such villages.
Asked about Assam government’s motive in building the road, Sohtun said any development work initiated by the neighbouring state government with an intention to encroach should be vehemently opposed.
It may be mentioned that the Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, had recently said that the Syiem of Hima Nongspung had issued the NoC to carry out road construction by Assam under the PMGSY scheme.
