AIZAWL, April 11 — North East Students Organisation Vice President Lalmuanpui Punte vol said that the North Cachar ethnic violence between the native Dimasas and other ethnic tribes such as Hmars, Kukis and Nagas was taking a turn for the worse with the Hmar people bearing the brunt of the attacks. In the meantime, the state government has swung into action with the Mizoram Chief Secretary discussing the situation with his counter-part in the Assam government and the Mizoram IG of police contacting his Assam counter-part.
Reports said Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga who was in New Delhi has also been apprised of the situation and that he had talked to the Assam chief minister. In the latest incident of ethnic trouble in Assam’s North Cachar District, the Dimasa people had allegedly gone to attack Hmar villages situated in and around Haflong on Monday. The Hmar people then desperately sought the help of the Mizoram government. The Mizoram government quickly contacted the Assam government who then deployed police forces in the area, managing to avert another fresh bout of violence.
Talking to news persons here recently, Punte and Lalvenhima Hmar of the Hmar Students Union said the ethnic trouble in the NC Hills began when the native Dimasas of this area wanted to change the name of the district to ‘Dima Halali’ which in the Dimasa dialect meant ‘Golden Land of Dimasa.’ This resolution was passed by the predominant Dimasa district council a resolution to include Dimapur in Nagaland in the NC Hills Autonomous District Council area, was also adopted.
This provoked the ire of the other ethnic tribes in the area, mainly comprising Hmar, Biate, Kuki, Naga, Hrangkhol and Vaiphei who submitted a representation to the Chief Minister of Assam. In the ensuing imbroglio, the NSCN (IM), taking exception to the attempt of the Dimasas to take away part of Naga territory, allegedly abducted three persons of the Dimasa militant group Dima Halali Doga (DHD). Since it was alleged that some of the abductors spoke in the Hmar dialect, revenge was exacted on the Hmar people of NC Hills from March 2, 2003. As a result of this, revenge taking from both sides has left around 90 people dead, including one army personnel and torching of at least three villages.