Villagers hail sordar removal by KHADC

SHILLONG, APR 1: Women and youth organizations of Tynring village hailed the decision of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council –KHADC- for removing the sordar CA Diengdoh for allegedly misusing his power and trying to sell off  over  1000 acres of ‘community land’ to the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority –MUDA.

The Seng Longkmie and Seng Samla Shnong of Shnat Raid Tynring village under Mawryngkneng Block in East Khasi hills district made an allegation against Diengdoh after an RTI findings.

According to them, Diengdoh was removed by KHADC on March 26 after a petition was filed by the organizations against him for misuse of power and his failure to convene the Dorbar meeting for the last four years.

“We strongly protested against the proposed move of the Sordar to illegally sell off the community land measuring over 1000 acres to the state government’s Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA),” Seng Longkmie, president P Kharmukhi told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday.

However when Diengdoh was removed as sordar by KHADC section of the villagers supporting him  had protest against the decision and instead alleged that the acting sordar appointed in his place was conniving with the local MDC and trying to sell away the land measuring around 80 acres.

But the RTI findings revealed that Diengdoh in his letter to the East Khasi hills deputy commissioner  written on July 21, 2012 had claimed that the dorbar shnong had executed a ‘power of attorney’ authorizing one Marshall Nongrum to sell off the plot of land to the state government, Kharmukhi informed.

Subsequent MUDA had conducted a survey on October 8, 2012 on the land but seeing opposition from the villagers under the Shnat Raid Tynring stopped the survey.

Kharmukhi informed that the villagers protested as the sordar CA Diengdoh had not convened the dorbar meeting before trying to sell off  which is  against the tradition and custom of preserving the community land, She said the organization had lodged a police complaint against the sordar.

Kharmukhi said, “All the decisions by the sordar were taken outside the dorbar, which was last convened on September 9, 2011.”.

Kharmukhi also claimed that the protested by Diengdoh’s supporters  in KHADC premises recently was not at all connected with the removal of the Sordar was staged to tarnish the image of the acting sordar and the MDC from the area.

Kharmukhi said the organization condemns the allegation against the MDC as he was one amongst those which was vocal against the move to sell community lands. She added, “The acting sordar was appointed as a caretaker since he has every right to take care of the village as  he is also the Myntri of Hima Khyriem”

The village had also filed two FIRs in 2011 the sordar alleging that he was involved in unauthorized  collection of money from  house to house claiming that it was to avail a centrally sponsored ‘total sanitation programme’.

Quoting an RTI document filed by the village, Kharmukhi said Diengdoh collected Rs 300 in the name of total sanitation from over 86 households in the village.

However, Kharmukhi informed that when the villagers enquired on the delay in implementing the scheme, Diengdoh lied by saying that the money collected from the villagers was submitted to the office of the BDO. But on inquiry the BDO, refuted by saying such money was not deposited in his office.

The second FIR alleged that Diengdoh illegal withdrew Rs .1.8 lakh by fraudulently forging the signature of over 35 job card holders under the MNREGS scheme.

In both the cases, police failed to arrest Diengdoh as Kharmukhi informed that Diengdoh was granted anticipatory bail but police have filed charge-sheet in the case.- By Our Reporter