Non-Dimasa Bodies Warn Govt Over Bifurcation Delay

Guwahati, Jul 24 : The demand for bifurcation of Dima Hasao is set to gain momentum with several non-Dimasa organizations warning that the situation in the district might worsen if the state government resorts to delaying tactics.

The Indigenous People's Forum (IPF), North Cachar Hills Indigenous Village Chiefs' Forum (NCHIVCF), North Cachar Hills Indigenous Women's Forum (NCHIWF) and North Cachar Hills Students' Forum (NCHSF) have strongly protested the christening of North Cachar Hills district as Dima Hasao.

These organizations argued that the new name represented only single Dimasa tribe, undermining the existence of eight other non-Dimasa clans.

"Non-Dimasas have suffered a lot in the worst form of communal clashes in 2003, 2005 and 2009. We are also politically much deprived in the autonomous council.

And our apprehension is that we are going to suffer more under the Dimasa-dominated rule.

The renaming of the district into Dima Hasao is only an expression of Dimasa domination," said IPF president Athong Lienthang.

The emergence of Hills Tiger Force (HTF), a non-Dimasa armed outfit, has already raised the specter of violence in the district which has started experiencing relative peace since the surrender of Black Widow rebels last year.

HTF, which is also fighting for the bifurcation of the district, has already triggered three blasts in the last three days.

Although non-Dimasa organizations condemned the violence and claimed their movement a democratic one, they warned that failure to bifurcate the district would vitiate the atmosphere.