KSU demands demolition of unauthorized religious structure at CBI office Shillong

SHILLONG, AUG 10: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded that the Meghalaya government demolish an unauthorized religious structure within the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office complex at Mawdiangdiang in New Shillong Township. In a letter to Meghalaya Urban Development Agency (MUDA) Director Prafulla Kumar Boro, the KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle issued a seven-day ultimatum, warning of sustained protests if the government fails to act.
The demand follows confirmation by the New Shillong Township Development Agency (NSTDA) that the structure violates the land lease agreement signed between the NSTDA and the CBI on November 14, 2018. The agreement permitted construction of an office-cum-residential complex but prohibited any deviation from the approved plan. “There was no permission for a temple. We have urged the Director to demolish the illegal structure and not allow any deviation,” KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle General Secretary Samuel Kharbani stated after meeting Boro.
Boro acknowledged receipt of the submission and sought time to examine the issues point by point, particularly those related to Urban Affairs, since the land was allotted by that department. The KSU also demanded an immediate halt to further construction and urged the NSTDA to refuse any post-facto regularization of religious structures on government land. “The government must act immediately and decisively and demonstrate that the rules governing government land apply equally to everyone,” Kharbani emphasized.
The controversy escalated after the KSU locked the under-construction temple on July 14, arguing that government revenue land should not be repurposed for unauthorized religious structures. However, the Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP), an Assam-based Hindu organization, condemned the KSU’s demand. KSP president Satya Ranjan Borah urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to ensure freedom of religion across the state, stating, “India is a secular country and every citizen has the basic right to worship as per his or her belief. We must not support activities that create social and communal tension.”
The KSU clarified that its demand was not directed against any religion or community but aimed at upholding the rule of law and preventing encroachment on public land. “We will not sit back and allow government land to be misused or the violation of lease conditions to be normalized,” Kharbani said, stressing that the issue was about legality rather than faith.
The NSTDA has reiterated that the CBI must comply with the terms of the lease agreement, which explicitly prohibits construction of any structure without prior permission. As the deadline approaches, the standoff highlights a growing tension between demands for strict enforcement of land-use regulations and calls for religious freedom.