Dimapur, January 2: The situation at the violence-hit Rengma inhabited areas in Karbi-Anglong (KA) remains tense as reports of arson were reported during the past two days. Despite the KA administration claiming to have the situation on the ground as under control, efforts to make contact with the affected, who are still stranded, could not be established. Apprehensive of further attacks, as many as one to two thousand people are stranded in the affected areas, unable to make it to safety, sources stated.
Relief workers are finding it extremely difficult to make contact with the stranded as telephone communication is almost non-existent in the affected Rengma villages. The villages neither have access to electricity nor other basic modern amenities. Only one village, Jongpha, is said to be electrified, has water supply and a primary health centre.
The stranded villagers are camping in groups at Jongpha, Phentsero (Phencherop), Lolashongnyu (Sarihuti also known as Khirang), Chosenlari – I Khanari (Nkhenari). These are the only villages left standing. As on January 2, thirteen villages were said to have been abandoned, out of which 9-10 villages were burned downed after the villagers left.
In addition to razed dwellings, paddy fields, orchards and livestock have been destroyed completely. Orange farming is the main cash crop which sustains the economy of the Western Rengma. It will take decades to recover the losses, one of the affected said on January 2.
“If at all the Assam Government welcome us back, infact, we need not be welcomed because it is our own land, we need to be protected,” commented one.
On New Year’s Eve, Tseguchangri (Borlangso), a village of 50 households was razed. At the time, almost all residents had left the village, with only a few staying back, the sources informed. It was followed with another similar incident on New Year ’s Day at Chokihola, where at least seven houses were burned.
Without armed police escort, relief workers were unable to reach the stranded, let alone assess the extent of damage to property. Without specifying, the sources stated that at two to three locations, roads, leading to the affected areas, have been damaged to prevent movement of vehicles.
However, Assam Police officials disagreed. An officer, who did not wish to be named, maintained that roads are open and that displaced villagers are being escorted to relief camps at regular intervals.
The officer disclosed that a joint operation was carried out at ten separate locations on January 2. According to the officer, some 30-40 people were picked up on suspicion of carrying out the arson attacks. Three of the detained people were suspected of having close links with the attacks, the officer said, while adding that further interrogation is on. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Cr.PC is in place but relaxed during the day, it was added.
As the unrest continues, the number of people at relief camps is increasing by the day. The count at Santipur relief camp was 1320 people on the morning of January 2. It neared the 2000 mark by evening as the relief camp at Rengma Baptist Church, Dimapur was relocated to Santipur. The number would have been more as, according to the sources, people had started fleeing since October seeking safe haven in Nagaland.
Naga civil society meet Assam Govt
A delegation of Naga civil society representatives, led by the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and the Naga Students’ Federation met with top Assam Government officials in Guwahati on December 31. The delegation had intended to meet the Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi but could not as Gogoi had to leave the Assam capital “for an emergency assignment,” a press release stated. “However, the delegation had a very fruitful discussion with the Representatives of Assam Government in the state secretariat on 31st December,” the release stated. The Assam Govt was represented by Prateek Hajela, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Political Department; Raut, IPS, ADGP, Law & Order and Pallab Bhattacharjee, IPS, ADGP, Special Branch.
The release stated that the Assam Government assured the Naga delegation to provide protection to Nagas, besides giving relief materials to both affected Rengma Nagas and Karbis. “The Assam govt further gave the assurance that the prevailing situation in the Rengma hills will be brought into normalcy within a few days time.”
Karbi Church leaders express solidarity with Rengma villagers
A team of 25 Karbi Church leaders visited Jongpha on December 30 with the aim to express the Karbi people’s solidarity with the Rengma villagers residing at the Jongpha village, the main concentration of Rengma Nagas. A press note informed that the peace team included Rev Dr Solomon Rongpi (Secretary, Mission and Unity, National Council of Churches in India); Benting Teron (Executive Secretary, Nihang Karbi Baptist Association); Samson Taro (Vice President, Karbi Anglong Baptist Convention); Rev Primingson Millik (Karbi Anglong Presbyterian Church, Rongkimi); Luke Rongphar (Mission Secretary, Karbi Anglong Baptist Convention); Samson Ingti (President, MCCI); Binarson Ronghang (Chairman, VDC) and Bijoy Teron, among others. It further informed that about 700 villagers attended the meeting and “expressed their anguish over the unfortunate incidents.”
KA Peace Forum formed
Concerned citizens and leaders of 25 civil, students, and church organizations met today at Diphu and formed the Karbi Anglong Peace Forum. Over 80 participants attended the peace meeting. A press note informed that the Karbi Anglong Peace Forum is a conglomeration of organizations consisting of all the tribes and communities in Karbi Anglong.
The newly formed Karbi Anglong Peace Forum has appealed to all sections of society to maintain peace in Karbi Anglong at any cost and urged both the KPLT and NRHPF to “immediately stop all contention so that villagers of both the Rengma and Karbi can return to their homes, and live peacefully.” It further “agreed to banish the militant organizations if this appeal of peace goes unheeded.” The KAPF urged the Government to provide immediate relief materials to the affected villagers and to provide immediate and adequate security in the sensitive areas. The KAPF also took note of what it termed as “recent false and fabricated newspaper reports,” and strongly appealed to the media to refrain from publishing unsubstantiated news reports.
~MExN
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