By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 8: The Khasi Students’ Union, South West Khasi Hills District (KSU-SWKHD), has reiterated its opposition to the proposed allotment of agricultural land to the BSF, declaring that it will not be intimidated by an FIR lodged against its leaders by the Syiem of Hima Maharam.
The FIR was filed after the student body staged a protest outside the Hima office against the proposal to allot about 70 acres of agricultural land to the BSF for the establishment of a unit headquarters near the Mula River under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, South West Khasi Hills. The KSU has demanded that the plan be scrapped immediately.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, KSU-SWKHD president Marconi Thongni said the organisation would not allow agricultural land to be handed over to the BSF. He alleged that only two close aides of the Syiem had obtained pattas for the land earmarked for allotment, while many villagers who have traditionally cultivated the area now stand to lose their farmland.
“We will not remain silent, and we are not afraid of the Syiem’s attitude. We are also not surprised by the FIR, since it has become his habit to act against anyone who questions his decisions,” Thongni said.
The union accused the Syiem of misusing his authority and vowed to continue resisting until the Executive Dorbar decides to revoke the allotment. Thongni explained that the organisation initially refrained from making the matter public, considering it an internal affair of the Hima. However, they were compelled to act after the Syiem repeatedly failed to honour his assurances.
“The Syiem cannot impose his will because the land belongs to the raid (community land), and every member of the community has the right to use it,” he asserted.
Citing other alleged instances of abuse of power, Thongni pointed to the issue of mobile tower installations. He claimed that although villagers had provided No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to telecom companies, the Syiem insisted that approvals be routed through him and that compensation payments be made directly to his office.
The KSU leader also criticised the Syiem’s refusal to allot land for the office of the Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, calling his justification of “no land available” disingenuous. “In reality, he only wants money,” Thongni alleged.