From Our Correspondent
PAROMGRE (SGH), Nov 24: Residents of the village of Paromgre in South Garo Hills have filed a counter FIR against Georgeman S Marak, a coal miner who has been provided a licence to mine coal in their village, alleging illegal destruction and violation of environmental laws of eco-sensitive zone of Rongma Paromgre, which is under the Nokrek National Park recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The complaint comes in the wake of an FIR filed by the miner against various residents of the village for destroying mining equipment that belonged to him.
In the FIR by the clan members, the villagers accused Georgeman, along with his agents, labourers, contractors and other unknown persons assisting him in illegal activities inside the Paromgre A’king.
“He (Georgeman) has been making continuous attempts to unlawfully occupy, control and exploit the Paromgre A’king by using an invalid and fraudulent notarized paper allegedly signed only by the male Nokma. This paper was never approved, signed or authorized by the Chra-Depante or the Mahari of the Chada Clan, nor supported by the majority clan members, nor registered under the Registration Act. It has no validity in law or under Garo customary practice,” the FIR said.
They added that legal action has already been initiated and is pending before the Deputy Chief Executive Member, I/C Land & Revenue, GHADC seeking cancellation of the present Nokma who issued the said notarised document.
“Despite this, he continues to trespass into the A’king and falsely claim ownership. Earlier, he filed a false FIR against some villagers of Paromgre, alleging incidents that never occurred. The persons named were innocent members of the Chada Clan. That FIR was filed with the malicious intension to harass the villagers, intimidate the clan and misuse the police process to support his illegal intentions,” they added.
“Recently again, he lodged another false FIR claiming that villagers of Paromgre burnt a house meant for overseers or managers. This allegation is entirely false. If any burning or partial destruction of any temporary shed has actually occurred at the site, then there is every possibility that such act may have been committed by the workers or persons engaged by him to conceal, remove or destroy incriminating evidence relating to the illegal mining activities being carried out inside the Paromgre A’king,” they added.
The villagers stated that they have been safeguarding and preserving the visible signs and materials indicative of illegal mining so that these may be properly examined by the competent authorities during any inspection or enquiry.
“We are prepared to assist the law-enforcing agencies in verification of the actual ground situation. No villager or clan member was involved in any burning or destruction. This FIR was filed solely to falsely implicate the clan and create pressure during the pendency of the Nokma cancellation proceeding. Paromgre A’king,” they asserted.
They added that their village fell under the eco sensitive zone where mining, construction and environmental disturbance are strictly regulated and restricted, despite which Marak brought labourers, machinery, materials and equipment into the A’king without any permission or clearance from the forest Department, Mines Department, Pollution Control Board or GHADC.
“His actions pose a direct threat to protected ecological areas, wildlife habitat, forest cover and environmental safety. Carrying out unauthorized mining or construction within an Eco-Sensitive Zone is a serious offence and endangers the entire landscape and community. The filing of repeated false FIRs, continued trespass, construction of illegal structures and preparations for unauthorised mining clearly show a deliberate pattern of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and attempt to unlawfully take over the A’king land,” the FIR added.
Seeking action against Marak, the villagers stated that his actions amount to cheating, fraudulent use of invalid documents, criminal trespass, giving false information to the police, making false charges with intent to injure, mischief, intimidation, and violations of mining, forest and environmental laws.
They wanted Marak and those supporting him to be booked under appropriate provisions of the BNS 2023, MMDR, Forest laws, Environmental laws and Eco-Sensitive Zone notifications.
“We further request that both false FIRs filed by him be thoroughly investigated and legal action taken for lodging false cases. We request that the police immediately stop all illegal activities inside the A’king, seize all machinery, equipment, vehicles and materials brought by him, and conduct a join inspection of the A’king area along with authorities from the Forest, Mines, GHADC and Pollution Control Board, Statements of the Chra-Depante, Mahari members, elders and villagers may kindly be recorded at the earliest,” stated the FIR.
