Nagaon, Jan. 27: The anti-talks faction of the militant United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today announced a campaign against ?outsiders? engaged in agriculture in the twin Assam districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.
The Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills People?s Resistance, which is the armed wing of the militant group, said it would not spare anybody found encroaching upon tribal-owned land. It barred transportation of agricultural produce from the twin districts to outside the region.
The Kuki tribe is believed to be the prime target of the Karbi militant group?s campaign, which follows the Autonomous State Demand Committee?s decision to scrap its peace pact with the community. The agreement was signed in 2000.
The UPDS? previous offensive, ?operation longri (save our homeland)?, was against the 41,000-odd Hindi-speaking residents of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.
Justifying its latest diktat, the militant group said ?outsiders? had encroached upon large tracts of land for sugarcane cultivation, upsetting the ?ecological balance?.
Its general secretary, H.E. Kathar, said hundreds of Kuki families had migrated to Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills from neighbouring Manipur and Myanmar to usurp land.
Criticising the administration for its ?mysterious role? in the migration, the militant leader said both the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council and the Congress government were encouraging ?the torrential influx? of the Kukis. He accused the government of also backing the militant Kuki Revolutionary Army?s ?operation volcano? against the UPDS.
?Instead of protecting the lives and properties of the indigenous Karbis, foodgrain, ammunition and guns are supplied to the KRA by the government forces.?