The Hima Sohra has given the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) time till July 9 to revoke its June 24 order notifying Majai village as a Raid.
The Executive Dorbar of Hima Sohra, has alleged that the notification classifying Raid Majai is a game plan of the KHADC.
Speaking to media persons yesterday, the Syiem of Hima Sohra, Freeman Sing Syiem, said that he and the Executive Dorbar vehemently oppose the order of the district council.
Freeman said that the Executive Committee of the KHADC had asked him to reply to a complaint by the general secretary of Dorbar Shnong of Majai, alleging the former of giving land documents to non-tribals and also appointing “chairman” in that village.
He said that he was given only three days’ time by the KHADC to reply to the complaint of the Dorbar Shnong Majai.
According to him, the complaint was sent to the KHADC on May 30 and the Syiem of Hima Sohra received a show cause on May 31 and had to reply to it by June 3.
He said that due to paucity of time he had written to the KHADC to give him time to reply to the complaint by the Dorbar Shnong of Majai but then on June 24 came a notification recognising Raid Majai.
Freeman pointed out that in the complaint letter by the general secretary of Dorbar Shnong Majai a letter head giving residential certificate by the Headman of Majai was attached.
But according to the Syiem of Hima Sohra, there is no headman in that village but only chairman exists.
When asked if the chairman has misused the nomenclature of headman, the Syiem of Hima Sohra said that there is an Acting Sordar in Majai to oversee that no one misuse the name of chairman or headman and that it is his duty to inform the former.
Freeman also said that KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem asked him to come for a meeting on June 11 and during the meeting asked him to remove B V Rymmai as the Secretary of Hima Sohra.
However, Freeman refused to do so stating that this is the job of the Executive Dorbar to do so.
Later the Syiem of Hima Sohra convened a meeting of the Executive Dorbar wherein the direction of the CEM was rejected since there is no reason to remove Rymmai.
Freeman also said that the decision to recognise Raid Majai was done without the consent of the office of the Syiem of Hima Sohra and therefore the Executive Dorbar rejects the notification.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Hima Sohra, Rymmai said that notifying Raid Majai is the game plan of KHADC CEM, Pynïaid Sing Syiem.
The secretary said that giving only three days’ time to the Syiem of Hima Sohra to reply to the complaint by the Dorbar Shnong of Majai is the autocratic style of functioning of the KHADC CEM to do away with the culture and tradition of Hima Sohra.
Rymmai pointed out that in the complaint letter by the Dorbar Shnong Majai to the district council they had pointed out that people of different ethnicities lived peacefully together in that village, even as he said what could be the reason to have suspicion over the Syiem of Hima Sohra.
He also said that the Acting Sordar of Majai was given the letter of appointment (Sanad) by the Syiem of Hima Sohra and if there is any problem the former should come to the office of the Syiem since it is nearer than the district council.
Rymmai informed that since 2019 when the Hima Sohra refused to give NOC (No Objection Certificate) to non-tribals for trade license, these people moved the court.
The Secretary said that notifying an area as a Raid should be done along with the knowledge of the Hima even as he pointed out that two areas – Dewkber and Thieddieng had asked the KHADC to identify them as separate villages and the district council asked for the opinion of the Syiem of Hima Sohra but in the instance of Majai there was no such communication.
Rymmai said that on the demand of the CEM to remove him as the Secretary of Hima Sohra, he called the former on the phone asking him for a meeting to seek clarification why he wants his removal, but the CEM has not met him yet.
Rymmai also alleged that CEM is turning his attention to Majai which is an export point invoking the story of Aesop’s Fable of the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.
