Tura is not part of khas mahal: Dakgre A'king chief

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Tura, April 27: The chief of Dakgre A’king (clan land) Enilla Marak today said that Tura was not part of “khas mahal” but falls under her jurisdiction.

Marak said due to wrong belief of the area by the people and authorities concerned, the district council has issued patta to the residents of the Tura town without her consent, which was “illegal”.

As per the Garo customary practice, a Nokma (village chief) or A’king Nokma (chief of a clan land) has the sole authority to distribute and gift a land to a people residing under her jurisdiction.

However, such practice is not prevalent in towns of Garo hills at present. But in the past two years, the chief of Dakgre A’king has been making this an issue.  

In a bombshell letter to administrator of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), DC and SP of West Garo Hills Marak said,  “Tura was declared town elaka (area) without the A’king Nokma’s consent and made to believe that the town has no A’king Nokma. Development in the town elaka is over the land of the A’king, the franchise of land however was always with the A’king Nokma”.

Marak has enclosed documents claiming them to be prove that the entire Tura area was part of Dakgre A’king and no land has been officially parted by the A’king Nokma to be declared as a “town” or “khas mahal”.

In the past five decades, not only government has purchased land for development in Tura but also the common masses have purchased land and have availed patta under the Dakgre A’king.

Marak said that there has been a mass land violation in Tura area, which has to be rectified. She also appraised the authorities on the formation of Nokma Committee, which will look into all matters regarding land and tribal administration.

“GHADC is yet to reply as to why pattas were illegally issued in the A’king land without my consent and the government is yet to produce documental evidence of how much land was officially acquired from my A’king as there is no record with me of any such transaction over Tura town”, Marak stated.

The chief has asked the district council and the government to produce document as to why Tura was treated as a “khas mahal”. Marak has sought information as to who was responsible for this manipulation.

“GHADC failed to produce any records when we sought information regarding “khas mahal” through an RTI.

Marak said that “Khas Mahal” cannot exist in an A’king land but it looks like leaders who manned the GHADC and the State manipulated everything taking advantage of the ignorance of the A’king Nokma.