Meghalaya: JNC stages mass protest against Shree Cement land deal in East Jaintia Hills

Shillong: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), along with residents of Daištong village and surrounding areas, staged a mass protest on Wednesday outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Khliehriat in Meghalaya’s East Jaiñtia Hills, opposing the alleged unlawful transfer of community land to a private cement company.

The demonstration, marked by placards, chants, and speeches, urged authorities to immediately halt all actions related to the disputed land.

Hundreds of participants gathered in Daištong, holding placards with messages such as “Shree Cement Go Back” and “Daištong Land Not a Factory Land.” Protesters voiced their concerns in the local dialect, including the phrase “Dai thaw Beaiñ, ngi Pyrshah,” which translates to “selling land illegally, we protest.”

Community leaders, JNC representatives, and village elders addressed the crowd, condemning what they described as a violation of local land rights and traditional ownership.

They reiterated their unified stance that no private or industrial encroachment on ancestral land will be accepted without the informed and voluntary consent of the community.

During the gathering, JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh warned that if the ongoing public hearing process fails to stop the alleged land acquisition, the community would intensify its protests. He also announced plans to seek legal recourse, including filing a case in the High Court, to safeguard their ancestral rights.

The protest remained peaceful but carried a strong message, reflecting deep-rooted concerns among villagers who fear that their customary lands are at risk of exploitation.

The JNC has vowed to continue its campaign until the authorities and the company withdraw from the contested area.

“Additionally, a stern warning was issued that if the public hearing proceeds, and if officials or government representatives aligned with the company attempt to use force, we too will respond with force on that day, speaking in their own terms.”