Baudi asks PM for intervention in NC Hills

IMPHAL, Jun 22 : As a direct consequence of a proposal nomenclature change of the NC Hills district to"Dima Hasao Raji" meaning" Dimasa`s kingdom" with 80 percent reservation of government jobs for Dimasas, transfer of land to Dimasa people, and issue of Inner Line Permit (ILP) to all non-Dimasa tribes, and resultant ethnic reign of terror, have forced more than 6,000 Zeliangrongs to flee to different relief camps in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland, said a statement released by the Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland).

The release further said that at Manipur’s Tousem sub-division about 800 refugees are taking shelter while in Jaluke town in Nagaland there are 200, and in Laison village in the NC Hills district of Assam more than 5,000 refugees are present.

The release further thanked the chief minister of Manipur for generously donating more than Rs. 4 lakhs worth relief materials to the victims of the ethnic violence now staying at relief camps in Tamenglong district.

The statement further said the government of Manipur had been considerate in providing NREGS job facilities to the victims.

In the meantime, the Zeliangrong Baudi on June 19, sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and to the home minister, P Chidambaram through fax demanding immediate assistance for the victims and restoration of peace and harmony in the NC Hills.

G Nigtangpou, president of the Zeliangrong Baudi further said there are 82 Zeliangrong Naga villages in NC Hills and all of them are affected with the inhabitants denied the opportunity to earn their daily wages. The DHD(J) and DHD(D) are freely roaming the area threatening, burning houses and killing the people, he added while also stating that the NC Hills have been devastated by bamboo flowering and rodent menace.

He called for immediate assistance and relief along with restoration of peace and harmony by the Central government, failing which there would be a big calamity causing food scarcity, malnutrition and death.

It may be mentioned that since April, 2004 around 32 people have been killed in ethnic violence and nine injured. Further, from May 2009 till June 2009, 247 houses have been burnt down.