Ultras nabbed in Haflong(Anup Biswas)

Acting on a tip off, Haflong police nabbed two cadres of Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) from Mahur, 35 KM from Haflong  on Monday. Following repeated interrogation of these cadres one AK Riffle, two magazine and 58 rounds of ammunition were recovered from one Lunjahao Lienthang of Numjang village under Mahur police station. Both the cadres identified as Thancha Khingsai, 27 of Changpijang under Mahur PS and Lansen Kuki, 25 of Mulkon under Maibang police station were brought to Haflong Police station for further interrogation. 

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.

A powerful bomb exploded at a market place at Haflong town in DIMA HASAO district. (by Preeti)

In Assam, one person was injured and several shops were damaged when a powerful bomb planted bysuspected militants exploded at a market place at Haflong town in the DIMA HASAO district on Sunday evening. The injured person was rushed to Haflong Civil Hospital and is stated to be out of danger. The incident took place at around 7 in the evening. The entire market not teeming with people due to Sunday evening.The injured person has been identified as Panit Daulagapu.A massive search operation has been launched in the area to apprehend the culprits involved in the blast.
In another incident, two train drivers were kidnapped by suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants in Sonitpur district on Sunday. The militants stopped the train in a remote jungle at gun-point when it was proceeding to Bhalukpung from Rangapara. Security forces have launched a massive joint operation in the jungle areas bordering Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to trace out the kidnapped train drivers.

Illusion still prevails over DHD peace talks

ll Dimasa Students Union, Dimasa Peoples Council and UPFA in a joint press conference in Guwahati have said that the media report goes on that the Dima Halem Daogah has given ultimatum to concede their demand of Dimaraji to the Government of India.

CJ: D N Singh

Sat, Aug 28, 2010 12:27:57 IST

WITH THE threat of Dima Halem Deogah (DHD) serving ultimatum upon the Government of India to concede to their demands before October 2, 2010, situation in the region seems to be going on the wrong track.

All Dimasa Students Union(ADSU), Dimasa Peoples Council (DPC) and UPFA in a joint press conference in Guwahati said that the media reports confirm that the Dima Halem Daogah (DHD) has given ultimatum to the Government of India to concede to their demand of Dimaraji. DHD had accepted the cease-fire agreement with the government in 2003, responding and respecting the public opinion to abjure violence and come to talks, so that they could isses could be resolved peacefully.

M K Phonglo, working president, DPC, S Kemprai, general secretary, DPC, R Hasnu, general secretary, ADSU and J R Muchahary, president, UPFA addressed the press conference and stated DHD should go for tripartite talks with the Centre and state governments.

Their main demand was the creation of Dimaraji for the safeguard and speedy development of the people living in the proposed Dimaraji, who also raised socio-economic grievances of the Dimasa people of Assam in their charter of demands.

Other democratic organisations like ADSU, DRDC, DMS, DKH etc; who were the frontal bodies, who launched movement for the creation of Dimaraji, a long democratic movement from 1991, even they welcomed the initiatives taken by the government and suspended temporarily their movement for the peaceful environment for talks.

However, they were disappointed over the ultimatum served by DHD, as no acceptable and fruitful solution of the issue came up even after seven years.

They further said that the facilitators and civil society bodies thought that this ultimatum and threat to pull out from peace process to go back to jungle, would jeopardise the whole peace process undertaken by the government not only for the DHD, but also would adversely impact and complicate the cease-fire with other militant groups of the North-east India.

They would lose faith in peace talks and may resort to the path of violence and subversive activities, which might polarise in due course of time. The peace loving democratic organisations strongly felt that the governments are not up to their expectation of executing their commitments and are just passing time without following the peace process seriously. They feel that the government instead of solving the problems is rather complicating the peace processes by delaying tactics and confusing more, which has resulted to this kind of threat from the militant groups on ceasefire agreement.

They further said that the government appointed P C Haldar as interlocutor to talk with DHD and other ceasefire militants groups of Assam and the Assam government even constituted Cabinet subcommittee under the chairmanship of Dr Bhumidhar Barman, to solve Dimaraji issue and other problems of Assam.

Several times, the discussions held for amicable and acceptable solution of the Dimaraji issue and other related problems and recommendations and suggestions were put forward, but no fruitful result came out.

They said that ‘the ball is now in government’s court’, whether the government would like to take the responsibility of pulling out of the peace process forcing DHD back to jungle or concede its demand for peace and prosperity of the proposed people of Dimaraji. They also appealed to DHD leadership to re-consider their stand in the best interest of the people living in the proposed Dimaraji.

Citizens’ appeal in Haflong(Anup Biswas)

Conscious citizen of the Diama Hasao district appealed to all the Political leaders, Intellectuals and bonafied citizens of the district not to allow any outside agent from any organization to interfere in  hills political affair and not to give chance to make this district their hunting ground for money making.

The district of Dima Hasao with the population of not even two lakhs has witnessed a series of changes in political affair with the interference of some outside agents who are still very much active to create chaotic condition so that their aims of making political leader a milch cow continue. Some senior citizens, under the condition of anonymity said that first, all the political leaders of this district in particular should change their mindset. They should not allow or encourage anyone, particularly the out side agents to play with the lives and future of the people of this district. As these people have made them public leaders, the leaders should also remember and give importance to the public voice or suggestion rather than listening the dictation of out side agent who always trying to make a distance with the local tribal people and their leaders for their narrow Gaines. It is not at all a hiding fact that some people, be it politicians, businessman, officials or intellectuals from out side had come with only one agenda i.e. to fool the simple and innocent people, of course by manipulating the local leaders. There fore it has become the need of hour for the people of this district in particular to be vigil and raise voice against such injustice by the out side agents and not allow them to interfere in any political affairs of the district.

26 groups stage protest in Delhi (TAT)

 NEW DELHI, Aug 26 – At least twenty six organisations led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) today staged a demonstration pressing for resumption of the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), solution of the flood and erosion problem, inter-Stateboundary dispute and halt of the mega dam project works.

The organisations that participated in the demonstration included All Assam Tribal Sangha, All Assam Tribal Youth League, Mising Mimag Kebang, All Rabha Students’ Union, All Mising Students’ Union (T.M.P.K.), All Tiwa Students’ Union, Tiwa Yuva Chatra Parishad, All Tai Ahom

Students’ Union, All Dimasa Students’ Union, Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association, All Koch-Rajbanshi Students’ Union, All Assam Motok Yuva Chatra Sanmilan, All Assam Moran Students’ Union, All Assam Deori Students’ Union, Karbi Students’ Association (K.S.A.), All Adivashi Students’ Association, All Assam Chutia Students’ Union, All Assam Gurkha Students’ Union, All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, All Assam Sarania Kachari Students’ Union, All Assam Modahi Students’ Union, Karbi Students’ Union (K.S.U.), N. C. Hills Indigenous Students’ Union and All Assam Karbi Students’ Union, among others.

Displaying banners and placards, demonstrators raised slogans high-lighting their demands. “Solve the inter-State boundary problems – restore our land, If Assam’s oil, gas, coal and tea are national assets, why not flood and erosion problems,” screamed the demonstrators.

The rally at Jantar Mantar was joined by several of the MPs and ex-MPs including Bijoy Chakravarty, Biren Baishya, Kumar Deepak Das, besides Sarbananda Sonowal, among others.

Addressing the demonstrators, AASU’s adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that Assam Government under pressure of vested interest stopped the process of updating the NRC in Barpeta district.

The Congress Party is ruling in Delhi, Dispur and Itanagar, then why can’t it resolve the inter-State boundary problem, he asked.

The rally was also addressed by Dr Ranoj Pegu, and the visiting MPs. The delegation is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister on Friday morning.