SHILLONG: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), along with residents of Daištong village and neighbouring areas, staged a major protest on Friday in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Khliehriat, East Jaiñtia Hills, opposing the alleged illegal transfer of community land to a private cement company. The demonstration, marked by placards, slogans, and public speeches, called on authorities to immediately halt all activities related to the disputed land.
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Hundreds of participants gathered in Daištong, carrying placards with messages such as “Shree Cement Go Back” and “Daištong Land Is Not Factory Land.” Protesters also voiced their concerns in the local dialect, chanting “Dai thaw Beaiñ, ngi Pyrshah,” which translates to “selling land illegally, we protest.”
Community leaders, JNC representatives, and village elders addressed the gathering, condemning what they described as a violation of customary land rights and traditional ownership. They emphasised their collective resolve that no private or industrial encroachment upon ancestral land would be tolerated without the informed and voluntary consent of the community.
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During the assembly, JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh cautioned that if the ongoing public hearing process fails to stop the alleged land acquisition, the community would intensify its agitation. He also announced plans to seek legal intervention, including approaching the High Court, to safeguard their ancestral rights.
The protest remained peaceful but carried a powerful message, reflecting deep public resentment over fears that customary land is at risk of exploitation. The JNC has vowed to continue its campaign until both the authorities and the company withdraw from the contested area.
Additionally, a stern warning was issued that if the public hearing proceeds and if officials or government representatives allegedly aligned with the company attempt to use force, the community “will respond with force on that day, speaking in their own terms.”
(Ukhrul Times has not altered the material in any manner. The content is published exactly as received from the original source.)
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