Meghalaya Government’s Intervention Sought in Mawjymbuin Cave Dispute

Shillong: United Democratic Party (UDP) MLA from Mawsynram, Ollan Singh Suin, has urged the Meghalaya government to address the growing tension surrounding the demands of the Hindu group Kutumba Suraksha Parishad. The group has threatened to impose road blockades if the current ban on religious worship inside the Mawjymbuin cave in Mawsynram is not lifted by December 23.

“Since this group has already threatened to organize demonstrations like road blockades, I think the government should intervene and have a look at it,” Suin stated while speaking to reporters in Shillong.

At the heart of the dispute is the Parishad’s demand to allow Hindu devotees to perform rituals in the cave, renowned for its natural rock formation resembling a Shivaling. However, the local Dorbar Shnong (traditional village council) had earlier refused to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for such practices, a decision subsequently upheld by the district administration.

“These groups have been raising the issue for the last few months, and the district administration had first sought permission from the local Dorbar, but it declined to give an NOC. The district administration had to go in line with the local Dorbar’s decision to not allow any organization to perform rituals and rites inside the cave,” Suin explained.

The matter escalated to the High Court of Meghalaya, which directed the district administration to establish a committee comprising representatives from the Tourism Department, the local Dorbar, and the district administration to resolve the issue amicably. Despite this, Suin noted that the local Dorbar remains steadfast in its decision.

“The local Dorbar has stuck to its decision of not allowing any rituals inside the Mawjymbuin cave. That matter was brought to my notice,” he said, reiterating that the Dorbar’s jurisdiction over the cave makes its decision final and binding.

Located approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Shillong, the Mawjymbuin cave is both a geologically significant site and a popular tourist attraction, celebrated for its unique stone formations. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about potential disruptions to road connectivity and increased communal tensions in the region.

Also Read: Meghalaya: Prestone Appeals to Hindu Group to Respect State's Land Traditions Amid Mawjymbuin Cave

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