KHADC seeks Centre's intervention in Mawshbuit residents-GTC personnel recurring clashes
SHILLONG:
Chairman of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Pyniaid Sing Syiem recently met Union Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt to apprise him about the recurring clashes between residents of Mawshbuit area and defence personnel over a Public Work Department (PWD) road that connects the village to Shillong city, through the Gorkha Training Centre (GTC).
Syiem, who is also the MDC of Sohryngkham, submitted a letter to Bhatt on Thursday, stating the problems faced by the Mawshbuit residents, and alleging harassment by GTC personnel.
In April this year, a clash between the residents of Mawshbuit and GTC personnel was reported when the latter allegedly prevented the people from using the road.
Following the clash, the traditional heads of Mawshbuit and civil society groups demanded the removal of the gate erected by the 58 GTC, terming it to be the bone of contentment between them in the area.
Notably, the residents have been using the PWD road with no restrictions from 58 GTC for years, but the problem started in 1983-84 after the army constructed a gate called "Drona Charya".
In the letter, the KHADC chairman alleged that the construction of the gate was done without the permission of the state PWD authorities.
Furthermore, he alleged that personnel manning the gate would harass the people by checking them and their vehicles on the pretext of security reasons, unnecessarily.
Asking the minister to find a solution to this “vexed problem", Syiem suggested shifting or dismantling of the gate and construction of a wall on either side of the road as done by 101 Area and the Air Force.
He asserted that this way the public would be able to commute freely without any hindrance or inconvenience.
“He (minister) has assured that he will take up the matter immediately," Syiem said when asked about the outcome of the meeting.
When asked what took him four months to approach the Minister of State, he blamed that the COVID situation in the state as well as in the national capital for the delay.
Meanwhile, the headman of Mawshbuit, R. Nongkhlaw, informed that clashes during his tenure occurred four times – 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Currently, the situation is calm but, "we are waiting for the matter to be resolved by the district administration", Nongkhlaw added.
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