The youth wing of the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has demanded stringent action against one Vinu Shishupal Rampal for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Khasi person by using the surname of Pariat in apparent violation of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Lineage Act.
KHNAM also claimed that Rampal had been practising Benami and had violated the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation of 1954.
By using the surname Pariat, Rampal was running a company without applying for a trading licence, as is required by non-tribals in Meghalaya, KHNAM youth President Thomas Passah said today.
“KHNAM had filed a complaint on this matter on January 30 and Rampal was summoned by the KHADC (Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council) on July 3 for misusing the Khasi surname but, while the council investigation into this matter is still in process, Rampal recently tried to appoint one Khasi person as the Director of his company (Col Shishupal Security Consultancy Services) and thereby had practice Benami,” Passah said.
Informing that a few weeks back Rampal was himself the Director in the company and the registration of the company was also done in his name, Passah said that first Rampal misused the Khasi surname to escape all the procedures, like applying for a trading license, and now, since he had been summoned by the council, Rampal appointed a Khasi person as Director in his company to avoid complications.
Meanwhile, speaking to Highland Post, KHADC Chairman Pyniaid Sing Syiem warned people misusing Khasi surname that they will be dealt with and punished as per the Lineage Act.
“I will take up the matter with the concerned Executive Members in the KHADC on this subject and convene an emergency meeting immediately and see that all pending cases on the complaints filed against the misuse of the Khasi surnames are dealt with immediately,” he said.
