At Cross Roads

Robert Lanky *

Desperate to score a point over its rival faction led by Jowel Gorlosa, the pro-talks Dilip Nunisa has demanded the Union Home Ministry's interference in tackling the DHD (J) who have created law and order problem in North Cachar Hills district. The DHD alleged that the local administration and the NC Hills Autonomous Council were silent on the activities of DHD (J). A memorandum was also submitted to Union Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram demanding strong actions against DHD (J). Both the factions are now at cross roads.

In the month of Feb , Army authorities told the media that DHD(J) is on the run in NC Hills. They are no more fighting with the cause instead they are resorting to goondaism by beating up relatives of surrendered militants and perpetrating atrocities on innocent people which is condemnable.

DHD (J) has killed two members of Zeliangrong community in the first week of March. The act of DHD (J) has posed a serious challenge to the Zeliangrong community. As per news articles published in various news papers, Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZFY) warned the militant group of stern measures. Their atrocities continued in second and third week of March by killing two civilians and injuring six.

Victims were made to queue up and were shot point blank. The 'All Zeliangrong Students Union' expressed their utter shock at the terror unleashed by the militant outfit. The Zeliang community people living in the three states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland have condemned the incidents and have said; 'if DHD (J) is taking the peaceful nature of the community as weakness, they are greatly mistaken'.

Even before the formation of NC Hills District in 1970, the whole of the district has been severely affected by insurgency related activities. Due to inhospitable and difficult terrain, the government of Assam has not been able to administer and deploy state forces in DHD and HPC dominated areas to contain the insurgency and inter factional killings which have left many dead.

After the recent atrocities by DHD (Jewel) in Haflong area in which four persons belonging to Zeliangrong community were killed and three others injured, more than 500 people have been forced to flee and take shelter at make shift relief camps in Tousem subdivisions of Tamenglong district.

Many associations like Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB) Assam, Manipur & Nagaland Zeliangrong Students Union(AZSU- AMN) warned that people would rise to the occasion to thwart the sinister design of DHD (J) for ethenic cleansing by committing atrocities on the community.

The recent incidents have also brought the Naga's of Zeliangrong community and the militant outfit at 'Cross Roads'. The situation is volatile and any time the violence could flare up leading to communal divide. The people of the NC Hills district should rise to the occasion ignoring the ill-designs of the DHD (J) group and assist the administration in maintaining peace, communal harmony and providing assistance to the homeless and initiate return of Zeliang community.

State govt should enforce security and safety measures and to instill a sense of security to the affected community. There is need to launch an action plan on two scores; one to restrict and prevent the violence and secondly to assess the needs of the affected community particularly women and children and provide necessary assistance. Restoration and safeguarding of human rights particularly of women and children is imperative and enforcement measures to protect them against the atrocities of the DHD (J) group.

At this hour of crisis, all the communities should exercise restraint and refrain from making outbursts to ward off communal violence which is the ulterior design of the militant outfit and to disrupt peace and harmony in the region. The need is to unite together with a strong determination to thwart this sinister design of the DHD (J) or any other group in the state or region and bridge the gap between the two communities which are at cross-roads.