The Nokma for Kilman Gittim, Arje Ch Marak, has filed a police complaint against one Aijonish D. Shira and others after what she alleged were attempts to forcefully acquire the land that belongs to her Nokmaship.
The land in question houses a stone quarry that had been used by BSCPL Infrastructure Limited for the construction of a road between Garobadha and Dalu. The company, after completion of the project in question, removed its equipment from the area.
However, the villagers had alleged that a forged document, without their authorization, was being used by Aijonish Shira to forcefully stake a claim to the quarry.
As per the FIR filed yesterday at the Garobadha Police Station in West Garo Hills, the Nokma alleged that several persons have been coming regularly and trying to force the villagers to give up their land to them.
Explaining the entire chain of events, the Nokma stated that during the time of BSCPL, the company had fraudulently taken the signature of the husband of the Nokma, Gotjeng Sangma, on a blank document. This was done on the pretext of important documents that needed to be signed and the uneducated Sangma apparently gave his thumb impression.
“After the company left and as most of the villagers are in poor economic shape, they requested the land for continuing the quarrying of stones for which permission was given. The quarry was to be continued in the name of one of our villagers, Mingsing Sangma and we were working on getting the various NOCs for the purpose,” said Arje.
However, the Nokma added that they were shocked to learn while getting the various no-objection certificates (NOCs) that another person, Aijonish Shira, was also moving files for the same site.
The same document that the Nokma’s husband had signed allegedly was being used as a legal document to prove her ‘legitimate’ right over the land.
“We have written to the Deputy Commissioner on the matter after which the DFO (District Forest Officer) had sought an opinion from the GHADC over the ownership of the land in question. The GHADC (Garo Hills Autonomous District Council) ruled in our favour after which the DFO ruled that the lease deed was not valid,” said the Nokma.
Thereafter Aijonish Shira along with her power of attorney, former MLA Ashahel D Shira, approached the Executive Member in charge of Revenue and got another order that this time ruled in their favour.
This, however, was challenged by the Nokma to the GHADC CEM, who asked for a review, after which the EM asked the case to be moved to a Civil Court.
“Surprisingly the DFO, for reasons best known to him, issued a letter to further process the application of Aijonish D. Shira, even after the submission of the order of the EM asking for the case to be taken to a Civil Court,” the Nokma alleged.
Arje Marak alleged that the lease agreement with Aijonish Shira was terminated by her on October 12 despite which she and her ‘agents’ were trying to dispossess the Nokma from the Aking land.
Confirming the receipt of the complaint, the Superintendent of Police MGR Kumar stated that the case was currently under review.
“If it is a cognizable case, it will act upon as such and so will it be if it is non-cognizable in nature,” said the SP.
