R Dutta Choudhury
SILCHAR, Oct 21 – Members of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) are directly involved in the recent clashes in Dima Hasao (North Cachar Hills district) despite the fact that the outfit has been under cease-fire agreement with the Government of India since 1997.
Meanwhile, tension is brewing in the hill district at a time when the Government of India is preparing to sign peace accords with both factions of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the DIG (southern range) of the Assam Police, Binode Kumar said that the situation in the hill district is now improving and efforts are on to book the culprits involved in the recent incidents of violence and named FIRs have been filed against most of the culprits on the basis of the revelations of the victims and the confessional statements of those arrested.
On the involvement of the NSCN (I-M), Kumar said that the confessional statements of those arrested clearly indicated that members of the militant outfit under cease-fire agreement with Centre were involved in the clashes. The NSCN helped the formation of newly created militant outfit Hill Tiger Force and members of the NSCN even provided weapons and training to the cadres of the new outfit, Kumar said and added the NSCN cadres also came to NC Hills on the eve of the recent clashes and instigated the non-Dimasa people and members of the Hill Tiger Force. According to revelations of those arrested, members of the Naga outfit were involved in one of the incidents of setting fire to a village. Interestingly, though the NSCN cadres were carrying AK series rifles, they used double barrel guns to create confusion among the security forces, Kumar added.
The DIG said that a non-Dimasa organization – Indigenous People’s Forum was agitating in the district against signing of any accord with the factions of the DHD and when the news started appearing that the Government of India is ready to sign peace accords with the Dimasa militant groups, some non-Dimasa people started floating rumours and the Hill Tiger Force, backed by the NSCN and a Hmar outfit, took advantage of the situation. Interestingly, members of the DHD and DHD(J), who are in designated camps, did not retaliate, which prevented the situation turning into a full scale ethnic clash.
According to the rumours, the non-Dimasa people would lose their rights and 80 per cent of the jobs would be reserved for Dimasa people. Some even rumoured that Dimasa traders were refusing to sell rice to non-Dimasa people. All these rumours, along with the killing of James Dimasa and attacks on Dimasa villages since October 12 resulted in deterioration of the situation.
Kumar said that the situation has now improved and additional forces have been rushed to the district to deal with the situation. Those arrested on the basis of statements of the victims of arson have been named in the FIRs so that they can be prosecuted as per the provisions of the law. The district administration and police held meetings with leaders of various communities and appealed to them to stop rumours from spreading and they have also been told that anyone involved in unlawful activities would be strongly dealt with.
Meanwhile, the DIG also admitted that NSCN cadres have started visiting Cachar, particularly Silchar for “holidaying”. He said that police started raiding hotels and arrested several NSCN cadres and the hotel owners have been directed to report to police if any of the guests is found to be carrying weapons.
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