Dimaraji state cry grows shriller(Ttelegraph)

Silchar, Aug. 30: In a massive show of solidarity, thousands of Dimasa people, led by a conglomeration of 84 frontal organisations of the community, today took part in a rally at Haflong, demanding a separate Dimaraji state. The rally, which was held in the Town Committee field, was followed by a colourful procession through the main streets of the town (district headquarters) before culminating at the deputy commissioner’s office. Prafulla Hafila, the president of All Dimasa Students Union (ADSU), which had organised the programme, said a memorandum, addressed to Union home minister P. Chidambaram and chief minister Tarun Gogoi, was submitted to deputy commissioner Dilip Barthakur. A source in the Assam police’s special branch (intelligence) today estimated that about 6,000 persons had participated in the rally. While several shops in the town had downed shutters, not many people were present in the state and central government offices today because of the rally. Official sources in Haflong said there were no reports of any untoward incident during the programme. Earlier, addressing the sea of humanity, Hafila regretted that the Centre had not paid any heed to the preservation of the identity of the community through creation of a separate Dimaraji state. He warned that the Dimasa people would be compelled to add more teeth to their demand for a separate identity through more such demonstrations if the Centre and Assam government do not consider their demand for a separate state. Though the organisers had earlier estimated that nearly 20,000 people would take part in the rally, such a number was not reached owing to the lurking fear of trouble in the wake of a blast at Langthasa Bazaar in the town last night. One person was injured in the incident. Police said they are investigating the blast, which also damaged a few shops in the market. However, the needle of suspicion points to the Hill Tribal Force, a new militant outfit. The outfit is believed to have recruited Kuki, Hmar and Jeme Naga youths into its fold.