Indigenous hill tribes demand bifurcation of NC Hills

GUWAHATI, Oct 6: Indigenous hill tribes of North Cachar Hills district (NC Hills) have once again appealed to the State Government to bifurcate the district into two parts – one for Dimasas and the other for non-Dimasa people. They have also expressed their displeasure at the decision of the State Government to rename NC Hills to Dima Hasao district.
Various non-Dimasa organizations today submitted a letter to the State Urban Development minister and Chairman of the Group of Ministers, Dinesh Prasad Goala in Guwahati.
NC Hills Indigenous People’s Forum president A Thong Lenthang said,“Formation of one’s homeland in somebody’s ancestral land is direct violation of the human rights of the indigenous people. The State Government is well aware of the ethnic unrest in the district because of clashes between the Dimasas and the indigenous tribes. Thousands of innocent people have lost their lives in these clashes. It is about time that a right decision is taken to restore peace in the region.”
Lenthang said the non-Dimasa tribes of NC Hills have taken serious objection to the State Government’s decision of changing the nomenclature of the district to Dima Hasao. He said while doing so the Government did not take into account vital factors like population.
Non-Dimasa tribes have demanded bifurcation of NC Hills into two parts – one for Dimasas with its headquarters at Maibang and one for non-Dimasas with its headquarters at Haflong.