Ngos for CBI probe into land scam

Leaders of ngos displaying the RTI papers relating to land scam. TM Pix
Leaders of ngos displaying the RTI papers relating to land scam. TM Pix

SHILLONG, APR 1: Even as the KSU, FKJGP and CSWO said it will appeal to the Shillong High Court to take up a suo motto case and direct the CBI to investigate into the land compensation of Rs 4.50 crore made by the office of the East Khasi hills deputy commission in 2003 despite incomplete and forged documents submitted by two land owners, the ngos have also demanded that the office of the DC must file FIRs against officials involved in the dubious act of paying the land compensation money.

The leaders of the three ngos told reporters during a media conference on Monday that they fail to understand why incomplete documents were entertained and why the government (office of the deputy commissioner) paid public money amounting to  Rs 4.50 crore for the land in 2003 based on the incomplete and forged papers.

CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said RTI papers revealed that  the government has acquired land from Unikey Kharkongor and Nearly Kharkongor in 2003 and 2007 of which the documents provided by them to the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) were found incomplete. The land that they have claimed as theirs is identified as village Mawier, which is hardly 600 acres.

But, Kharshiing continued, the two land owners have in their Deed of Declaration declared they have over 2372 acres of land in Mawier, which she said will cover many other villages besides Mawier  and consequently affect many villagers who are definitely going fight against the claim.

The ngos also alleged that there were no surveys conducted on the lands bought by the government for the setting up of the proposed new Shillong Township.

Alleging that the land documents of Unikey and Nearly were not only forged and incomplete, Kharshiing said, “The Non Judicial Stamp paper was purchased on the June 5, 1992, while the Deed of Declaration was signed on the June 4, 1992 which was identified and witnessed by a lawyer, SP Mahanta and signed by a First Class Judicial Magistrate.” She wondered, “It cannot be that a declaration was made and papers verified before the purchase of the stamp paper.”

Last year the government had evicted four houses at Mawier under Mawlong Dorbar shnong following the purchase of the land from the tow land owners.  Mawlong’s Rangbah Shnong ( headman) who had accompanied the ngos said,  “The government officials just came and evicted the families of the four houses without giving prior information or the reason behind the eviction.”

The ngos informed that villages such as Umsawli, Mawtari and other neighbouring villages of Mawlong would be affected from this land acquisition that they claims is forged, incomplete and encroached by the two land owners.

“People in and around the area of Mawlong village are living in fear, scared that the government may evict them at anytime,” Kharshiing revealed.

Kharshiing also said that the ngos have demanded that the office of the East Khasi hills deputy commissioner should file FIRs against government officials who are involved in paying land compensation money based on incomplete, forged and manipulated documents. She said the authority must also initiate action against Unikey and Nearly for providing forged legal documents undermining the law.”

The leaders also said that they approach the High Court to take up a suo-motu case on the matter saying, “We will request the High Court to take up a suo-motto case and asked the CBI to investigate into entire matter.” They said that those responsible for cheating the government and the people must be booked as per law. – By Our Reporter

 

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