STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, July 15: Mawjymbuin cave, a tourist and religious location in Mawsynram, 54 kms from Shillong virtually turned into a conflicting zone on Friday after a group of Niam tynrai (Indigenous faith) believers under Seng Khasi Hima Mawsynram allegedly went to stake claim of the cave on religious grounds.
The group, said to have received the sanctioned of the Syiem (Chief) of Mawsynram Chiefdom were greeted with opposition from the Mawsynram Village Council that resulted in a verbal commotion.
Mawsynram Village Council asserted its rights over the cave, a reason that led to the contradiction.
Sources said that the matter could have taken ugly turn, if the Additiol District Magistrate and the Police from Shillong have not arrived on time.
A Village Council functiory claimed that the other branches of the Seng Khasi in Mawsynram have distanced themselves from Seng Khasi ,Hima Mawsynram. This was evident from the recent press conference addressed by the members of Seng khasi units of Mawsynram.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) M Kharkrang admitted that there was a scuffle, but everything subsided later.
Soon after the verbal exchanges, a meeting was convened at Mawsynram Police station by the Additiol District Magistrate along with the concerned parties.
Nothing definite is known about the outcome of the meeting, but it is clear that the Mawsynram village Council has no reason to stop the tourist or pilgrims to visit the site if they abide by the criteria on cleanliness as lay down.
However, it is learnt that the entire episode did not go to well with the Seng Khasi Hima Maysynram on grounds that they have got the legal sanction of the Syiem (Chief) of the Chiefdom to proclaim its ownership over the cave.