SHILLONG, JULY 14: Barato, a remote village in West Jaintia Hills, dorbar authority has vowed to continue fighting against the alleged land grabbing by a neighbouring village Maitdein and also threatened to file defamation case against the Maitden headman for accusing that the executive members of the Barato village had attacked him with arms.
The land dispute between the two villages is pending in the district council court.
“We are committed to pursue the case against the illegal land grabbing by Maitdein village till it reaches its logical conclusion,” former Barato headman Aiborlang Shadap told newsmen at a press conference on Tuesday.
According to him, a case on this issue has already been filed in the district council court on May last.
He informed that Maitdein as per documents falls within the jurisdiction of Barato village.
However, a land agreement was given by the village authority with the approval of the former Doloi of Shilliangmyntang Samuel Bareh in 1951, to allow the people who original hails from villages under Elakas of Shangpung and Raliang to use the land at Maitdein for agricultural and forest activities.
According to him, this land agreement was again renewed and approved by the incumbent Doloi Khamly Sariang in 1990, and it was clearly stated that these people can continue their livelihood activities ‘with the condition that they can’t have any rights over the land’.
The Baroto village authority had even extended burial and cremation grounds to the Maitdein church.
At present, the Maitdein is having a population of over 300 households while the mother village, Barato is with over 700 households.
Stating that for decades the relationship between two villages was mutual and peaceful, Shadap however said, “But the land dispute started when the Doloi Khamly Sariang had signed a fresh land agreement with the Maitdein village without the consent of the village dorbar of Barato.”
He informed that this came to light in his (Doloi Sariang) letter to the Chief Forest Officer of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) on September 30, 2013 where he had requested the latter to withdraw his recommendation on the propose permission to register the forest in Maitdein because he had committed mistake.
Soon after this, the village dorbar of Barato had unanimously decided to conduct a re-verification of its boundary on April 27, this year till Myntang River as per the land documents of the village, he said adding “Unfortunately, the Maitdein village headman instead alleged the Barato people of intruding into their agricultural lands and fish ponds.”
It was on May 1, the district deputy commissioner summoned both the village authorities to his office with a request to both sides to resolve the matter, which however did not fructify. The DC had also directed the two parties to go back to their respective villages and have a joint meeting and settle this issue. Based on the DC’s direction, a joint meeting of the two villages was convened on May 11, in the presence of police personnel.
“During this meeting, the Barato village had proposed settlement of the issue to Maitdein with the condition that they surrender the land holding certificate, but the Maitdein headman Arphi Sariang sought for time to discuss the matter with his executive committee before placing the report on the same in the next meeting fixed on May 16, which never happened,” Shadap said.
Again on May 25, the DC convened a meeting with the two villages where he had directed that the people from Maitdein to discontinue all their activities, till the matter is resolved.
Informing that the two villages under dispute were also summoned by the JHADC chief Thombor Shiwot on June 24, Shadap said, “The CEM tried to make the Maitdein village authority understand on the need to end the dispute on the ground that as per land document (dulir), Barato village is the rightful owner of the land in dispute.”
“But the Doloi despite the document refuted that he had signed the land document of Barato village on August 9, 1990,” he said.
Stating that matter is now pending with the court, Shadap said, “In its recent order issued by the district council court, it has clearly directed that Maitdein village should refrain from carrying out any activities on the disputed land.”
Meanwhile, the Barato village authority while strongly refuted the allegation levelled by the Maitdein headman against its EC members threatened to file a defamation case if he cannot prove that they are involved in attacking him recently on July 6.
“The allegations against our EC members including the Rangbah Shnong by Maitdein headman are false and unfounded,” Shadap said.
As per the FIR filed by Arphi Sariang, the headman of Maitdein, he had alleged that on July 6, a group of 15-20 armed miscreants had open fire on him. He (Sariang) had also claimed that the miscreants are Barato villagers.
“If he (Sariang) says that 20 odd armed miscreants, then why in his FIR he had named only five who are EC members including Barato headman?” Shadap questioned while adding that in fact all the five EC members were having a committee meeting from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm at Barato when the alleged incident took place.
Therefore, he said, the village authority demand that the Maitdein headman come out clear and prove his allegations are true failing and informed that they will file defamation case against him as per the Indian Penal Code.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours