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10/13/2005: "Centre, NSCN I-M to hold talks next month"

Centre, NSCN I-M to hold talks next month PTI news
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The Centre and major Naga insurgent outfit NSCN (I-M) have decided to adopt a "step-by-step" approach in the peace process in Nagaland and agreed to hold their next round of parleys in the second half of November.
The two sides also made efforts to narrow down their differences on several contentious issues during three-days of talks in Bangkok from October nine to October 11, informed sources said today.

While the Central team was led by Union Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister Oscar Fernandes, who has been holding talks with the NSCN (I-M) at the political level since January this year, and included K Padmanabhaiah, the Centre's pointsman for the Naga peace process, the 12-member NSCN (I-M) delegation was headed by its General Secretary T Muivah.
NSCN (I-M) Chairman Isak Chisi Swu did not attend the parleys as he was recouping from a surgery.

Some headway has been made in Naga talks: Govt PTI Thursday, 13 October , 2005,
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday night said that "some headway" had been made in the crucial peace talks with major Naga insurgent outfit NSCN (I-M) in Bangkok and the two sides had agreed to hold further parleys in the second half of November.
"Some headway is there, I cannot give details," Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister Oscar Fernandes, who led the Central team for the three-day talks with NSCN (I-M) from October nine in Bangkok, said.
The two sides decided to adopt a ‘step-by-step’ approach in the peace process in Nagaland and agreed to hold their next round of parleys in the second half of November.
The two sides had made efforts to narrow down their differences on several contentious issues, informed sources said.
An Islamic state? I think not Platform | Madhu Purnima Kishwar Most people in India associate Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s ‘healing touch’ policy in Kashmir with attempts to win over estranged Kashmiri Muslims through more humane and democratic methods and reduce the violence in Kashmir. Few realise it has also meant reducing corruption, providing responsive governance, fostering a process of dialogue across political divides as well as revitalising the economy of the Valley by reviving tourism and investments.
Doubts about the ‘healing touch’ policy persist because people aren’t aware of the other equally important dimensions of this approach. The near total exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley was one of the many tragic manifestations of bloody conflicts fanning these divides. Even though the number of Kashmiri Hindus returning to the Valley may not yet be impressive, the reconciliation processes deserve attention. It started in 2002 with Mufti specially flying down to Delhi to host a dinner for Kashmiri Pandits on the occasion of Shivratri, an important festival especially for Kashmiri Hindus. He made a fervent plea to them to return to their homeland because Kashmir was incomplete without them.
Partly as a result of such gestures, Srinagar witnessed a big revival of domestic tourism in 2003. An abandoned church in Gulmarg was renovated despite there being no Christian vote bank either in Gulmarg or in the Valley and despite the fact that Islamic militants in Kashmir had started targeting Christian priests for allegedly seeking converts. Thus, in such quiet gestures, Mufti gave out clear signals that his government stood for pluralism and respectful coexistence among people of diverse faiths. The state government also organised a major tourism campaign during the Hindu festival of Lohdi, to be celebrated at Patni Top, a hill resort in Jammu. For the first time, people all over India saw families of tourists and honeymooning couples enjoying the snow-clad mountains of this hitherto neglected and relatively unknown hill resort. Such moves sent a message not only to Hindus across India that J&K was not an ‘Islamic state’ despite its Muslim majority but they also told the people of Jammu that they would not be marginalised and neglected by the ruling regimes in Srinagar. By promoting Patni Top as a tourist destination to rival Gulmarg and Pahalgam, Mufti conveyed a clear message that the economic growth and development of Jammu is no less important than that of the Valley.
The government’s active involvement in making arrangements for Kashmiri Pandits to celebrate Jyeshtha Ashtami at the ancient Khir Bhawani temple near Gandarbal also signalled that Kashmir belongs to all Kashmiris. According to educationalist Sushila Bhan, the participation of Kashmiri Pandits in this festival has risen dramatically in the last three years, with bus-loads of Pandits coming from all over India for this pilgrimage. In the past two-three years, J&K has witnessed a massive revival of tourism. The fact that tourists, including a million honeymooning couples, visited the state this year is proof that Indians are getting the message that this ‘healing touch’ includes re-establishing the strained bonds between Kashmiri Muslims and people all over India. The process through which this renewal is being achieved needs to be understood as it could provide us insights into the implementation of the ‘healing touch’ policy in other troubled regions, such as Manipur and Nagaland.
Mufti is brimming with new ideas for such bridge-building. During his recent visit to Kargil, while travelling through the area where a pool, Draupadi Kund, is situated, he proposed that it be developed as both a pilgrimage and a tourist attraction. Legend has it that it was here that Draupadi had her last bath. The chief minister also assured the Buddhist minority of Kargil that he would take up their demand for opening up the Kargil-Skardu route to enable them to visit holy Buddhist sites such as Taxila in Pakistan. In the Muslim-dominated regions of J&K, it has become common for politicians of all hues, including those from the Congress or the National Conference, to try and establish their mazhabi credentials by starting political meetings with Islamic invocations or prayers. This has probably been adopted to placate Islamic militants. It has also become a common practice for leaders to hold their public meetings near mosques to coincide with the end of the Friday prayers so that they have a ready-made audience. Mufti apparently discourages his party from using such tactics and never indulges in them himself. I have heard Mufti invoke the name of Allah only twice. Once, he dwelt on the urgency of promoting education of girls by telling the audience at a public meeting: “It is the hukum of God that no one be denied education. Therefore, it is your sacred duty to educate your daughters.” The second time he reminded politicians and government officials that Allah does not forgive those who indulge in corruption. A small trickle of Pandits have quietly started returning to Kashmir in response to the government’s efforts. A special housing enclave with special security has been built for Pandits who wish to return. Those who lost their businesses are being helped with loans and subsidies. These efforts have not been as vigorous as Kashmiri Pandits would like them to be, but given the time Mufti has had to calm the raging fires, their importance should not be underestimated. None of these attempts to reconcile J&K’s people would have had a chance to succeed if Mufti weren’t widely perceived as someone attempting to provide honest and responsive governance after decades of mismanagement, corruption and callous disregard for people’s well-being. The battle for peace, justice and respect for diversity can only be won when combined with good governance. The writer is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

PM likely to visit Imphal in November The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 12: Prime Minister Manmohon Singh is scheduled to arrive in the state as a part of his Assam and Manipur visit in the last week of November this year. The state government has started preparations for according a warm welcome to him on his visit. In this regard, the state cabinet in a meeting held this afternoon at the chief minister`s bungalow decided to begin arrangements immediately and instructed the state chief secretary to compile a memorandum after consultiions with heads of departments of the state government, to be submitted to the visiting prime minister. According to a source, there is a programme listed in the prime minister`s office to visit the state capital Imphal as a part of his visit to Assam during the period. However there is no official confirmation of the date for the Prime Minister`s visit to Assam. After getting information of the possibility of the Prime Minister coming to Imphal during his visit of Assam, the state cabinet today resolved to formally invite the Prime Minister to visit the state during his Assam tour. The source also said that the state had decided to propose to the prime minister`s office to arrange for the prime minister to lay the foundation stones of the city convention centre at palace compound, Loktak down stream project and a sports academy.

The state chief secretary has been instructed to issue a circular in this regard, the source said. Among the other agendas that were discussed in today`s cabinet meeting, which commenced from 9 am in the morning chaired by the chief minister O Ibobi, were review of the downsizing/right sizing orders in respect of the departments of adult education, forest and commerce and industries. While discussing the downsizing of the forest department, the cabinet approved the abolition of 15 posts of forest guards instead of the department`s proposal for abolition of 6 posts of RO. The cabinet also reviewed the downsizing in the state adult education department. The cabinet reportedly discussed the filling up of the vacant posts of teachers in the hills, non-transferable to the valley areas, so that the shortage of teachers in the hill areas due to their transfer to the valley areas could be avoided. The meeting also decided to develop the infrastructure of the schools in the hill areas under the SSA scheme. The source further said the cabinet also approved for the engagement of 380 mathematics and science teachers for the high schools in hill districts of the state and filling up of various vacant posts under the Autonomous District Council Manipur.

It also approved the appointment of 79 technical staff and refilling of abolished staff in the public health engineering department (PHED). The cabinet meeting today also discussed the enquiry report on the killing of three Kuki boys near Minuthong Hatta by police commandos last year. After thorough discussion on the inquiry report the cabinet found the report imperfect and contradictions in the versions of the police and inquiry commission were found due to which the cabinet decided to instruct the state home department to relook into the report and table the same in the next cabinet meeting. The cabinet also approved the extension of service of Salam Nabachandra as chairman, Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) for one year from 1-7-2004 after his retirement on superannuation on 30-6-2004 and revision of the salary of the chairman, Manipur Human Rights Commission at the proposed amount.
The cabinet meeting also discussed the substitution of Sakte (Sahte) tribes with Tiddim Chin tribe in the Scheduled Tribe list of 1976 and 2003, and provision for revision/modification of the Scheduled Tribe lists of 1976 and 2003 in respect of Kabui and Kacha naga but deferred the two agendas for discussion in the next cabinet meeting.

NSCN(K) The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 12: The NSCN(K) Wung region has informed public not to entertain any monetary demand served in the name of the outfit without the knowledge of its chairman. The public also appealed to furnish information about such demands to the outfit, according to a release issued by James, region secretary.

Nagaland 2020, a vision: PART ONE Chizokho Vero October 12 The Morong Express
KOHIMA (MExN): By the year 2020, it is possible to see a developed Nagaland—with population under control, the economy growing at an accelerated pace, infrastructure such as transport, communication and power improved to modern levels and qualitative health care being provided to the people. "It would indeed be a Nagaland moving into the future full of hope and expectations and reaching the aspired position among the fore-ranking states in the country in terms of prosperity, development and happiness," says Lalhuma Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner in the Nagaland State Human Development Report. The report states that Nagaland will need to adopt a concrete population policy to stabilize the population level at around 30 to 35 lakh by 2020. Assuming that this is possible, by 2020, Nagaland will still be hovering around a per capita income of about Rs 35,735 as per the projections of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics.
A rational Agriculture policy and land use policy for Nagaland aimed towards sustainable development would soon be in place in Nagaland. Through these policies, by 2020, the present permanent forest reserve areas in the state would increase from 12 percent to 30 percent while another 30 percent surface area would have been brought under forest and tree cover through measures such as commercial plantations (10 percent), agro-forestry and cash crops under trees in the form of high value aromatic and medicinal plants (10 percent) and the present bamboo growing areas increased from 5 percent to 10 percent, the report revealed. Pointing out that Nagaland would become the centre of processing meat requirements in the country, the report goes on to state that by 2020, apart from being self sufficient, the state would also export such products to the adjoining regions and the neighboring countries.
Referring to bamboo stock, the report states that by 2020 through systematic regeneration and its exploitation it is possible that this would generate an annual economy of Rs 1000 crore. The development of infrastructure in the realm of roads, power and communication accentuated by the envisaged growth of the country’s trade and commerce through the region to south-east Asia, will be a priority. Further, through the exploitation of its mineral reserves, Nagaland will be producing at least 1 million tons of oil from the present proven reserves of over 600 million tons, the report states. (2nd part to continue tomorrow)
CAO NSCN (IM) Chang region rebuts statement The Morong Express
DIMAPUR, OCT 12 (MExN): The CAO of NSCN (IM) Chang region has rebutted the statement made by MB Neokpao Konyak of the NSCN (K) wherein it was alleged that the NSCN (IM) CAO had taken with him large cache of arms and ammunition while joining his present assignment. The CAO, B Moba in a press communiqué stated that innocent and peace loving Nagas were being misguided by ‘self styled leader like Neokpao.
"First of all calling me a prodigal son is baseless and meaningless as Mr Neokpao Konyak is the one who looted us (Changs) with our arms and ammunition", Moba alleged while giving nine instances of how Neokpao and the group he represented had themselves benefited from the transfer of arms and other materials. "There are many more things which Nokpao has taken from Chang region and if I start mentioning then the readers will be really bored as the list is very long", Moba stated.
UNC decries Shillong killing
IMPHAL, Oct 12 : Des-cribing it as ‘dastardly', United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly con-demned the killing of ‘five Nagas' by the spe-cial operation team of Meghalaya police at Mawlyngad village in Meghalaya on Oct 5. Though the incident appears to be a sadistic pre-planned murder by the Meghalaya police, the Government of India cannot shirk off its responsibilities, UNC president Puni Modoli said in a statement.
At this crucial stage of peace process between the GoI and the NSCN (I-M), such incidents, if not duly addressed will cause irreparable da-mage to the mutual trust worked out between the negotiating parties, Mo-doli maintained and demanded a high level inquiry into the incident and awarding exem-plary punishment to the guilty. He further said that UNC would extend full support to the resolu-tions of the Naga Hoho adopted at the funeral service of the ‘slain he-roes' at Dimapur on October 7.
WRITE-WING Why blame the Senden or the Ao’s Meren The Morong Express
My attention has been drawn to the news item of one Seochem Sangtam, Dy. Kilonser (Khaplang) under the caption, "Aos’ new found friendship" published in some local dailies dated 4th October 2005. I fully agree with him on the account of the Aos being pioneers in the field of Christianity and Education and the sincere efforts of our forefathers in the erstwhile Tuensang and Mon communities. Undoubtedly, we still nourish that good relationship with the people of that area.
However, his apprehensive warning to the Aos for the "... new found friendship with the Tangkhuls... .and in case their friendship proves to be short-lived, and the Aos are compelled to look back to the East in times of adversity, naturally, the Changs, Konyaks, Sangtams, Yimchungers, Phoms and Khiamniungans etc. would also be compelled to say sorry... ---you go your own way and we will go our own way" is very immature and does not in anyway reflect the will of the people of that area. The Aos value the age-old friendship with the Changs, Konyaks, Phoms, Sangtams, Yimchungers and Khiamniungans. We would be very happy to see any of these communities making new friendship with others. Making new friendship does not in any way means discarding off our old and seasoned friends. What do we lose in friendship? Definitely nothing but it rather brings us closer towards a common goal. Then, why is Seochem so worried about better relationship developing between any of the Naga communities? Because, the adversaries have found out that one of the weakest areas for Naga unification is tribalism and they always find some dumbbells to make the noise for them. This time, it was fulfilled in the person of Seochem Sangtam, the honorable Dy. Kilonser. But if he insists that this is his original thought and not being motivated by any other agency, then let the whole of Nagas know what kind of mind set he has. Is it really necessary to open ones mouth simply to expose his bankruptcy of ideas?
Again, the honorable Dy. Kilonser had threatened that, "The cold attitude of the Aos, particularly the Ao Senden towards the NSCN-K after the August 2003 unfortunate incident at Mokokchung town cannot be taken so lightly. It may turn out to be a serious matter if the Ao Senden fails to understand things in right perspective". In fact, if Seochem is wise, he should understand that, the so called, ‘cold attitude’ of the Senden as he had mentioned, itself is a clear indication as to what amount the sentiments of the Aos were hurt by the irresponsible acts of the Khaplangs and that the oppressed citizens of Mokokchung reacted befittingly. Instead of realizing your follies why blame the Senden or the Aos? The writer is Dy. Kilonser (Home)
Letters to the Editor
Projection of shallowness in Naga’s Christianity The Morong Express
• Sir-The letter written by one, Kedi Haralu, requesting the government to "allocate" some money for Pastor Benny Hinn’s ministry comes as no surprise for the kind of Christianity that most Nagas practice. It simply projects the shallowness and naivety of many Christians in Nagaland. For one, those who know Benny Hinn’s ministry inside-out will know right away that a lot of Naga Christians are also being bought into believing in Hinn’s deceptive money-making ministry. A quick search on the Internet will reveal what Benny Hinn and his followers are really up to. Not only are Benny Hinn’s so called "miracles of healing" mock set-ups, Benny Hinn himself is a Necromaniac/ ecrophilia—one who believes and worships the dead! I suppose many Naga Christians are not aware of this. International news media and many Christian forums are constantly on the watch of what Benny Hinn’s next trick is up in his sleeve.
Just recently, BBC carried a news about a scam in which Benny Hinn was involved as the main actor! Hinn canceled his "miracle crusade" in an African country because the organizers were not able to come up with the money he demanded. Not only that, Hinn also asked the poor Africans to reimburse the expenses he incurred in arranging for this trip! Indeed, a prophet’s scandal that Christians must be aware of! Reports of Naga Christians going all the way to Mumbai and Bangalore to attend Hinn’s crusade needs serious reflection and questioning of whether belief, faith, and worship of God become possible only in the presence of a particular person! The Church in Nagaland must be able to address this. A lack of critical understanding of faith and practice among Christians in Nagaland make people like Kedi Haralu to come up with such a strange idea about allocating money from the state’s coffer for Benny Hinn’s ministry. Use of public fund for religious purposes is not the wisest thing in a secular state.
Nagaland is by no means a "Christian State" as Kedi Haralu has indicated. Rather, Nagaland is a state where Christians are a majority or dominant! If Nagaland was a "Christian State," it would mean the Church as the governing political authority over all matters, whether religion, civic, or others! Such a situation, I hope, will never prevail. Instead, Christian leaders, politicians, bureaucrats and all influencial people in Nagaland must exercise their Christian faith and ethics in governance and in the service of the public. This will be much saner than to "allocate" money for Benny Hinn and his money-making ministry! Bendang Toshi
60-year-old woman behind procurement From Pradeep Pareek Assam Tribune
DIMAPUR, Oct 11 – With the arrest of an aged female from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, the mystery about the procurement point of the huge consignment of the explosives seized in Dimapur Railway Station on October 1 last, seems to have been solved. A special team of Nagaland Police, which went to Aizawl, brought the lady identified as Chunchauni (60), wife of Baul Chungnunga, a prominent personality in Baungkaun, Aizwal. Chunchauni’s arrest was possible after the prime accused Lalumpui arrested by the Dimapur police on October 2, disclosed about her being the supplier of the consignment containing 710 gelatin sticks, 800 detonators and 60 metres of fusewire seized at Dimapur Railway Station in a dramatic situation, and located her residence. She was arrested by Nagaland Police on October 7 last, produced before the CJM on October 8 and was brought to Dimapur on October 9. Lalumpui was taken to Aizawl by the police to identify her. During interrogation, she revealed that she had taken a sum of Rs 28,000 from Lalumpui and Khumlin, who is still at large, on September 26 last to arrange the explosive materials. Police said that she is a businesswoman and owns a piggery farm.
According to police, she has been procuring the explosives from private contractors working under PWD Aizawl. This consignment was procured from Nguna Pauii. Elaborating about the modus operandi the police said, Chunchauni has a rest house in Baungkaun, where people from different states are accommodated with little or no money and thereby she arranges this type of things for them for earning commission. She had arranged the explosives for Lalumpui from the said contractor for earning commission, which ranges in between 2 to 3% of the total cost. However, in the present case, she had not taken any commission from Lalumpui. Chunchauni is said to be the oldest citizen in Baungkaun and is respected by everyone. Police is convinced that the sale of explosives by her was purely for business and has no intention of any kinds of terrorism. Chunchauni will be produced in the court here on October 14.

Meanwhile, the seizure of the huge quantity of explosive materials from Dimapur Railway station on October 1, a day ahead of the first anniversary (October 2, 2004) of the twin blasts which claimed more than 80 lives, was nothing but a bolt from the blue for both the security agencies – Assam Rifles and Dimapur Police. But the seizure of such hazardous explosives, that too in such a huge quantity, raised several questions. Dimapur police this time took the case to be of very serious nature as it can be any one’s guess what disaster 100 kgs of plastic explosive like gelatin sticks can cause if used in making bomb or blasting mines. Sources said, organizations such as PWG, Naxalites, Maoists and others use gelatine sticks for laying mines to blast security forces vehicles etc.

Ironically, the accuse involved in smuggling and illegal trade of these materials here in the state is booked for an offence as small as carrying or selling explosives for fishing purpose. No doubt, the efforts initiated by Dimapur Police yielded results when they could apprehend Lalumpui in the wee hours of October 2 and subsequent arrest of an ex-Nagaland Police personnel, Mhontamo Lotha, believed to have made a deal with Lalumpui by funding Rs 30, 000 to bring the explosive to Dimapur. The investigation also exposed the laxity of security agencies in the whole episode of the recovery of the explosive consignment brought to Dimapur by two persons. Sources claimed that had the Assam Rifles personnel deployed for security surveillance on October 1 been more active and alert, the absconding ‘old man’ could have been apprehended, who managed to made good his escape under the very eyes of the security personnel in the broad day light.
Until and unless these illegal procurement sources are not plugged, such sources will always keep the option open for all those offences as serious as waging war against the country, people concerned felt.
Assamese send ideas, good wishes for ULFA talks Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Oct 13 (IANS) Thousands of people in Assam have sent their suggestions and good wishes to a civil society group designated by the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to hold talks with New Delhi. Aimed at ending close to three decades of insurgency, the proposed talks between the People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the central government's peace negotiators are due to be held on Oct 25 and 26 in New Delhi.
'We are flooded with suggestions received over the e-mail, fax, letters and also verbally with many of them expressing their desire for peace and wishing us and the ULFA luck for finding a positive solution to the problem,' said Haider Hussain, editor of the mass-circulated Assamese daily Asomiya Pratidin. Hussain is a part of the 11-member PCG, a team of representatives drawn from the Assamese civil society and chosen by the ULFA to begin preliminary discussions to work out the peace process leading to formal declaration of a ceasefire between the rebels and the central government.
'We are taking some of the suggestions very seriously, while there were radical views as well with some of them endorsing the ULFA's views for an independent homeland,' Hussain told IANS.
The PCG, headed by noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami, includes prominent journalists, a yesteryear footballer, human rights activists, an engineer, a lawyer and a doctor.
'Our task is to ensure that the road to peace is smoothened so that ULFA leaders and the government emissaries could begin direct face-to-face talks at a later stage,' Goswami said.
PCG members have been regularly meeting to fine tune their strategy during the talks in New Delhi.
'We have to be careful as the meetings between the PCG and the government could determine the future of ULFA talks. Any wrong move at this preliminary stage could derail the entire peace process,' Hussain said. The ULFA is one of the most organised rebel armies in the northeast where more than 30 militant groups operate with demands ranging from independence to greater autonomy.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has formally welcomed the decision for talks with the ULFA representatives. National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan is expected to hold the first round of talks with the PCG, besides a likely meeting between the ULFA representatives and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. At least 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam since 1979 when the ULFA, the state's first rebel group, was founded.
Lay off, KNF warns KNA/KNO
IMPHAL, Oct 12: Kuki Nat -ional Front (KNF) has charged Kuki National Or-ganisation (KNO)/ Kuki National Army (KNA) with unleashing a reign of terr-or at Saitu area and warn-ed of dire consequences, if the latter does not stop terrorising the innocent people. In a statement, in-formation and publicity secy of the outfit LH Ste-phen said that KNO/ KNA cadres are terrorising the people of Saitu area, carr-ying arms openly in public places, resorting to ran-dom shooting, beating up innocent civilians and con -fiscating their properties, thus displacing hundreds of villagers from their homesteads. KNF would not sit idle, if they carry on with such activities, Ste-phen said, while asking the people to be aware of such anti-social elements out to the unity and peace among the people living in the area. Stephen further asserted that KNF has be -en tolerating so long in the hope that a peaceful solution could be brought about through negotiation. But now if the effort fail & retaliatory action become necessary, KNF should not be held responsible for the blood bath that might follow.
Night curfew in sensitive areas Karbi hills situation ‘under control but tense’; Gogoi puts on halt Bangkok tour Our Bureau Sentinel
DIPHU/GUWAHATI, Oct 11: The latest spurt in violence in trouble-torn Karbi Anglong has prompted the administration to clamp night curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in all sensitive areas in the hill district even forcing Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to put on halt his scheduled Bangkok tour. Gogoi, accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister’s Commissioner and the IGP (SB), was scheduled to leave for Bangkok today with a view to wooing foreign investments. The hill district was still ‘tense but under control’ with no fresh incident of violence reported from anywhere today, official sources here said. As many as seven houses, including that of a retired DSP and Dimasa Mohila Samaj general secretary Konika Jigdung, were burnt down by miscreants near Binapani School at Diphu town last night. An LPG cylinder of Konika Jigdung burst producing a deafening sound which was mistaken by many as a grenade explosion.
The Army staged flag march in the vulnerable areas today and security personnel have been deployed in all sensitive areas to thwart any subversive activities by miscreants. Representatives of political and non-political organizations belonging to both Karbis and Dimasas have jointly visited the affected areas to ease the tension. The clash between the two tribes have so far claimed 30 lives since September 26 while thousands of houses have been burnt and huge losses of property reported. The district administration has appealed to all sections of people not to pay any heed to rumours and spread panic. More than 5,000 people were taking shelter in seven relief camps in Diphu, 5,000 people in camps in Dhansiri and 500 in two relief camps in Bolangphar, the sources said. Hundreds of Dimasa tribes have fled Karbi Anglong and taken shelter in North Cachar Hills district. Many Karbi families residing in NC Hills have also left NC Hills. When contacted, UPDS publicity secretary Tong Ehh Nongloda said today that miscreants were torching the abandoned houses in the remote areas in the district. "Our cadres and the district administration have been keeping a strict vigil to prevent the miscreants from burning houses," Nongloda said, adding that peace committees comprising Karbis and Dimasas were formed in west Karbi Anglong.
Karbi-Dimasa clash: ABSU’s plea for harmony Correspondent Sentinel
KOKRAJHAR, Oct 11: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has expressed deep concern over the on-going communal clash between the Karbis and the Dimasas in Karbi Anglong district. The ABSU, in a statement, has appealed to both the communities to shun the path of violence and refrain from killing each other. ABSU secretary Gautam Mashahary, in a press release, stated that the people of lower Assam had witnessed one of the worst ethnic violence of Assam in the year 1996 between the Bodos and the Adivasis where hundreds of people from both communities had to lose their lives and property. Mashahary said that such violence would affect the age-old social relationship between the Karbis and the Dimasas as it had happened in case of the Bodos and the Adivasis causing irreparable damage to both the communities.
The release said both the Karbi and the Dimasa tribal brothers had been living together peacefully since time immemorial and they must maintain their age-old and racial relationship by easing tension. The ABSU also urged the State Government to deal with the situation in a proper manner so that the district could be saved from further damage