NC Hills Bloodied; Theatre of an inhuman ethnic- conflict, the once sleepy place is yet to wake up the Assam Govt.

By Sanasam Momo

Plagued with a protracted ethnic violence which has claimed sixty lives and maimed several, the North Cachar Hill districts is no longer the place where one can retreat for a respite. The picturesque landscape is marred by the spectre of death and insecurity bites the intruder no less than the heterogeneous inhabitants. No Sooner did the sun set than all the residents of the sleepy idyll remained indoors- the lights illumined empty streets and except for a few shops, business came to a standstill.

This has been going on since April this year. Prior to the ethnic killings, life was salubrious but the sudden shooting of Zemi Nagas by the majority Dimasa ignited the abominable ethnic- conflict. The devilish campaign of segregating the Zemi Nagas and elimination without warning mercilessly had its origin in the move to change the name of the place. The appraisal to the Home Secretary, G.K. Pillai on his visit at Guwahati highlighted that the Dimasas wanted to change the name NC Hills to its indigenous and original appellate Dima Haso Raji.

Taking into account the unscrupulous killing of a 17 year old girl in broad daylight by armed Dimasa youths, the ethnic strife has assumed inhuman dimensions reflecting stark savagery. The girl was buying vegetables at Dhubri market in the heart of Haflong town when she was accosted by town youths. She was asked to identify her ethnic identity and later unceremoniously shot dead. The incident provoked on lookers but they exercised restraint.

Perturbed by these string of unwarranted killings, the Union Home Secretary, G.K. Pillai informed top brass of the army, police and the state administration which met to check out the modalities and ground work of a united Command that only a strong administration could control the situation. He asserted that the presence of the state administration must be felt.

The genesis of this bloody conflict could be traced back to the early part of 2008 when the civil organizations and militant groups of the Dimasas asked minority Zemi Nagas and other sub- tribes to agree to the change in name of the NC Hills to its originally indigenous name ‘Dima Haso Raji’. The minority Nagas and other tribes hesitated the consent. It may be mentioned that a Cabinet Sub- Committee of the Union govt. had in the past objected to the change in name citing that though the Dimasas are the majority, they constitute only 43% of the total population of the area. Pending the consent, tension brewed up which ultimately exploded into random killings in the early part of 2009.

The Dimasas have destroyed the peace which was temporarily brought about by the Ceasefire between its rebels and the govt. This has once again plunged the place into grave in security to life with death coming easily, anytime.

In the backdrop of this violence marred existence, the only concern for the inhabitants is categorical return to peace. It this has to materialize, the responsibility of the Assam govt. is enormous. A concerted campaign is massive security deployment and negotiated understanding with the Dimasa rebels to cease the carriage of killings on certain acceptable conditions will contribute in restoring peace to this scenic place.

The govt. should act promptly to prevent further worsening of the situation because the solidarity of the Zemi- Nagas with the apex Nagas of Nagaland will precipitate the transformation of the conflict to unwarranted dimensions. Once the NSCN took up the cause of the minority Nagas, it will mean a bloody battle between Dimasa and Naga militant’s leaders to a civil war. The seeds of this undesirable prospect are apparent in the present round of ethnic attack against the Zemi Nagas. The govt. must, therefore, act before it is too late.

Significantly, there seems to be some constraints to a negotiated settlement with the Dimasa rebels. Sources pointed out that the Dimasa rebels would push for the change of name because they would threaten to withdraw from the Cease- fire 17 the govt. objected to the plan. They would use the change of name as a condition for the ceasefire agreement. In this condition, the govt. is put in a tight spot, halting prompt action which ironically escalate the conflict further.

The British had named the place North Cachar Hills District on the basis of geography.