On the day, Western Rengma GBs, pastors and public leaders were summoned by KLPT on June 9 at Nakoitiso village, near Tseguchangri, a Rengma village and reportedly forced to sign an ultimatum at “gun point”, said Western Rengma People’s Organization, Assam (WRPOA) president A.J. Rengma.
[caption id="attachment_8791" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Rengmas at a village in KAAC.[/caption]According to A.J. Rengma, KLPT also warned the Rengmas not to engage in any cultivation work and that those who decided to stay back would be doing so at their own risk.
In view of the threat, hundreds of Rengmas have already fled from their villages and moved to Chokihola area, while some were reportedly taking shelter in make-shift camps inside Nagaland.
The WRPOA president also informed that neither the Assam government nor the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council have provided any relief materials.
The Assam police and KAAC administration were yet to respond said A.J. Rengma. He informed that Samson Engti, MCC (I) president of Nilip constituency donated five quintals of rice and some quintal of potato and fifty kgs of pulses for the victimized people.
A.J.Rengma also expressed fears that if the Assam government failed to act, the situation could only aggravate.
He said Rengmas have been living under “duress and untold agony” for many years at the hands of Karbi militants. He also also alleged that many Rengmas have been “tortured and beaten” by ultras.
The WRPOA president reminded that the Karbis (erstwhile Mikirs) came to Rengma hills from Khasi hills, North Cachar hills, Arunachal Pradesh, Tezpur etc but that Rengma Nagas were the “son of soil” who settled down in the hills long before the arrival of the Ahoms.
He said the Rengmas have now become “slaves in their own land” but was confident that history would speak the “truth”.
He also pointed out that the Rengma hills comprised of the present Diphu and Bokajan sub-divisions and that these areas did not belong to the Karbis.
KAAC administration calls joint meeting
Meanwhile, Police and KAAC administration called a joint meeting of the representatives of civil societies, police, army and paramilitary forces chaired by Karbi writer Rongbong Tereng former president of Assam Sahitya Sabha following the exodus of Rengmas from their villages.
Rengma Naga People’s Council (RNPC) has also submitted a memorandum to DC PK Buragohain in presence of SP, DIG Central range demanding security and safety of the Rengmas.
RNPC president Khenga Rengma and general secretary Chento H Rengma said the indigenous people of Karbi Anglong knew “no communalism or discrimination”.
They said that today, after more than hundred years, Rengmas have been deprived of “legal and legislative rights.”
They said that the long standing demands of the Rengmas were not heard and that the Sixth Schedule Constitutional rights were not implemented for the uplift of the Rengma Naga society.
RNPC also appealed to all to consider whether “such act” by KPLT was justified or not, in the eyes of the law.
It may be mentioned here that NRHPF chairman Keyhang Rengma had told Nagaland Post that KPLT has been carrying out extortions in Rengma Naga villages and villagers have been living in fear with daily harassment meted out to them by Karbi militants. He also alleged Assam government had “intentionally” neglected the Rengmas.
~NP
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