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| File picture of the burnt houses at a village in North Cachar Hills |
Kohima, June 3 : Several Naga tribes have appealed to the Assam government to take effective measures to stop the clashes between Zeme Nagas and Dimasas in the North Cachar Hills.
The Naga tribes — Angami, Chakhesang, Rengma, Pochury, Mao, Poumai, Zeliangrong, Maram, Thangal and Inpui — blamed the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Gorlosa) for the bloodbath.
“We are deeply pained and seriously concerned at the prevailing ethnic unrest and lawlessness in North Cachar Hills, Assam, whereby our brothers and sisters were butchered, maimed and rendered homeless in our own homeland by a handful of DHD-J activists,” they said in a letter to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
They said the outfit had unleashed terror in the NC Hills since the early part of this year, targeting innocent and peace-loving Nagas and in the process precious lives have been lost. Several others were injured and thousands left homeless as their houses and property were burnt down and the people driven out of their villages while the administration remained a mute spectator.
The Naga tribes also demanded an immediate crackdown on the handful of “bloodthirsty” DHD (J) cadres to stop them from killing any more people.
They also demanded adequate amount of ex gratia for the next of kin of those killed and relief and compensation for those injured, who have lost property and were homeless. The tribes asked the government to make arrangements for the displaced people to return home.
Zeliangrong Hoho, Nagaland, the organisation comprising three tribes — Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmai — today admitted that Zeme youths had taken up arms to counter the attacks. But it appealed to the youths not to resort to violence and protect innocent Dimasas.
“Spare the women and children, let them live in peace,” the Hoho appealed. The Hoho has also appealed to the newly formed Zeliangrong Defence Force not to launch terror acts while the authorities are working on resolving the conflict between the two communities.
“It is disheartening to note that the Dimasas, who have been close neighbours of the Zemes since the time they (the Dimasas), fled their ancestral domain in Dimapur in 1535 and took shelter in Takloaram (Maibang), have now turned against the Zemes who gave them shelter in the first place,” the Hoho said.
It denied the involvement of NSCN cadres or any other Naga militant group in the ongoing clashes. The Hoho said Zemes have been loyal citizens of Assam since the separation of the states of Assam and Nagaland, but lamented that Dispur’s indifference towards the community has further complicated matters.
Hundreds of people are taking refuge in parts of Tamenglong district of Manipur and Jalukie in Peren district of Nagaland for the past three months. For those still living in the region, including other non-Dimasa communities besides Zemes, the militant outfits are restricting the sale of essential commodities, sources said.
The Nagaland government has been extending relief to the Zeme Nagas and urged Assam to take all measures to stop further clashes in NC Hills. Several Naga organisations, including the Naga Hoho, have visited the affected areas and appealed to both Nagas and Dimasas to stop the bloodshed.