High-Level Committee (HLC) Fails To Resolve Punjabi Line Imbroglio

Shillong: The Meghalaya constituted High-Level Committee (HLC) to resolve the Punjabi Line imbroglio failed to arrive at a conclusion on Thursday. Following the expiry of the government notification to all the residents of Punjabi Line to provide documents by Wednesday, none of them have come forward, divulged Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong during a brief interaction with media persons.

Tynsong categorically stated that the residents of the area have not been co-operating with the government in spite of the Meghalaya High Court order. “No one turned up to furnish their documents but as people with a big heart we have extended the notification for another 30 days,” stated Tynsong.

More than 14 months after the storm that threw half of Shillong city into disarray for a week, the government’s intent on relocating and eviction of unauthorized settlers has been questioned by many quarters. However, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Instead of complying they have gone to court.. we are also going to the court and the next hearing is next month”.

While the Punjabi population of the area located in the heart of Shillong has legally fought to establish their hegemony through the land rights given to them by the traditional Khasi Chief (Syiem of Hima Mylliem), Tynsong said, “It is good for them. But what is the problem in producing the documents to an inventory.”

The Punjabi populace is part of Shillong North constituency, many of whom are considered the crucial factor in electoral politics. However, queries related to non-Punjabi population within the periphery, has raised many eyebrows.

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