The A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has filed a Rs 5 crore defamation suit against social activist Nilbath Marak “for harming the reputation” of the pressure group in relation to the goings-on in Chitukuna village, North Garo Hills.
Marak had helped Chitukona villagers file a complaint about a trio of AHAM members’ usurpation of authority in the village with police.
The AHAM members had allegedly appointed themselves the new President, Secretary and Sordar of the village but AHAM, in a press release today, stated that they had legally been elected but their appointment was opposed by Marak, who does not reside in the village.
The AHAM members had accused Marak of holding meetings during the pandemic, for demanding money from the villagers and claiming to be from the CBI. Villagers, however, wrote to the police denying these claims.
“It is a known fact that three members of AHAM who are Secretary, President and Sordar of the village have been elected in a formal village meeting in Chitukona village on June 26 but Nilbath, a non-resident of Chitukona, refused to accept the fact and hence the drama after almost three months from nowhere,” the statement said.
“The allegations made by him (Marak) are baseless and of a destructive nature to the character of my clients and needs to be redressed,” AHAM’s lawyer Bernitha R Marak said.