The A’chik Youth Council (AYC) has written to the Deputy Chief Executive Member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Nikman Marak, seeking an inquiry into the alleged illegal transfer of land.
One Barshilla N Sangma, is the mother of two women – Pinky and Pompa Sangma – who apparently got the land transferred to their names without any gift or sale deed after her separation from her husband, Niku Saha. The role of GHADC officers has also been questioned as the transfer was done without her consent.
“After separation from her husband, Niku Saha, the two daughters were lured by him to his side, even going to the extent of going against their mother,” said the general secretary of AYC, Maxbirth G Momin.
According to information received the said land was purchased from Sushil Sarkar by Barshilla in 2011 after which, her then husband Niku Saha fraudulently transferred the said property to his daughters, apparently with the support of the Mondol of the Dalu area and some employees of the Land and Revenue department.
“Without her consent, no one has the right to transfer her property in any way, be it her daughter or anyone else. Her daughter Pinky Sangma later married one Neel Saha with her name recorded in the marriage certificate Pinky Saha. She has converted to Bengali and is no longer a Garo,” added Maxbirth.
He added that as per Garo customary law and practices, being married to a non-tribal, she is not entitled to inherit her mother’s property in any way.
“The Land Transfer Act, 1952 also prohibits transfer of land from tribal to non-tribal and non-tribal to non-tribal. It is felonious to transfer someone’s properties without his/ her consent,” the complaint added.
The AYC blamed the Mondal of Dalu along with a few employees of the GHADC for helping in the illegal transfer of land through a deceitful manner and asked for an investigation into the matter.
“The aforementioned employees are not performing their duty honestly. They do not deserve to be public servants as they are the ones breaking the rules and deserve punishment. A thorough investigation into the matter is essential to bring out the culprits in the matter following which punishment is a must,” felt Maxbirth in his complaint submitted today.
