Silchar, April 5: The ethnic violence sweeping across Assam?s Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts have spilled over to the adjacent Jiribam subdivision in Manipur.
More than 130 people belonging to the Bengali community have fled from Jiribam to Lakhipur in Cachar following relentless persecution by the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
Official sources in Lakhipur today said these people left their home and hearths yesterday to escape the wrath of the UNLF militants, who have been constantly demanding ?taxes? from the villagers.
The people, mostly from Chhotebekra, Badebaekra, Jakuradhar and Shibasthan in Jiribam subdivision, are being given shelter at the girls? school in Lakhipur town.
Proloy Roy, one of the refugees, today said they were left with no option but to flee because the poor farmers could not afford to pay the exorbitant ?monthly household tax? imposed by the UNLF. Every family had to pay Rs 100 for the house and Rs 20 for each cattle.
The UNLF had also slapped quit notices on the Bengali farmers, threatening to forcibly evict them if they ignore the diktat. Therefore, the panic-stricken people have fled to Cachar, one of the sources said.
Dispur today took up the exodus issue with the Manipur government. According to intelligence sources, the UNLF has planned to provide shelter to Meitei migrants from Bangla-desh in the villages evacuated by the Bengali farmers in Jiribam.
There are several Meitei-inhabited villages in Sylhet division of Bangladesh. The Manipur-based rebels in the past used one such village, Banugachh, as their hideout.
Hmar claim
A press note issued last evening by the joint action committee of the Hmar People (Defence Wing) has claimed responsibility for the incident at Chekarcham and Meghnathai district of Cachar on April 1, adding that the Hmar People?s Conference (Democratic) was not responsible for it, reports our Shillong correspondent.
Self-styled ?commander? of the committee Hmar Hnam Santu said the attack was in retaliation to ?counter the attack of the Dima Halam Daoga?. This newly-floated group has vowed to ?retaliate against and counter DHD activities? while also assuring that it would ?not lay hands on any other tribe?.
In the press note, faxed from an undisclosed location, Santu claimed that the Hmars have been at the receiving end since 1990. He alleged that on March 16, DHD militants entered a church at Boro-Muolkawi in the North Cachar Hills while service was on. ?The DHD militants molested churchgoers, snatched away their offerings and forced them to bow down before them saying they were more powerful than the Almighty,? he claimed.
President of the Hmar ?supreme house? (or Hmar Inpui), Meghalaya chapter, Z. Changsan said ?all efforts to negotiate with the DHD have proved futile?.
Hmar leader H.K. Joute has arrived from Manipur and is camping in Shillong to prevent any further flare-up. He met Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi a couple of days back and is attempting to establish contact with the DHD and other Dimasa groups.