Khliehriat (Meghalaya), Dec 10: In a dramatic display of unity and defiance, hundreds of residents from Daištong village and surrounding areas, backed by the Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), converged on the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, to voice their vehement opposition to the alleged unlawful transfer of community land to a private cement enterprise.
The air was electric with tension as protesters brandished placards emblazoned with powerful slogans, including “Shree Cement Go Back” and “Daištong Land Not a Factory Land.” The community’s message was clear: their ancestral lands will not be sacrificed without a fight.
JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh delivered a stern warning, cautioning that the community would escalate its protests and seek legal recourse if the authorities failed to halt the land acquisition. The protesters vowed to persist in their campaign until the company withdraws from the contested area.
The fate of the proposed project now hangs in the balance, as the JNC’s determination to protect its land and heritage is put to the test. With the community’s resolve only growing stronger, the government and the company will be under immense pressure to reconsider their plans and find a solution that respects the rights and concerns of the local people.
