Guest guest Report post Posted July 16, 2003 NOTE:THE DIMASA PEOPLE ARE DESCENDENTS OF THE PANDAV HERO, BHIMA, THRU HIS SON GATOTKACHA. THEY ARE DEDICATED DEVOTESS OF SHIV RAY, THEIR NAME FOR SHIVA. THEIR REFUSAL TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY HAS ENRAGED THE CONVERTED TRIBALS AND THUS THE ATTACKS.I PERSONALLY VISITED THEIR VILLAGES AND SAW THE BEUTY AND HARMANY OF THEIR CULTURE IN ACTION. VRN indicjournalists, "Michel Danino" <micheld@h...> wrote: Dear Friends, Please read the text below and spread it around. This type of cancer threatens to cut off the whole North-East. Regards, MD ****************** ETHNIC CLASH IN NORTH CACHAR HILLS AND CACHAR Hmars are not the original inhabitants of North Cachar Hills. It may be mentioned that till 1951 the Hmars find no mention in the census of N.C. Hills. The Hmars claim that they are the old Kukis. But historical records of British Administrators and Military officers shows that Old Kukis comprise of Hrangkhols, Khelmas and Bietes and New Kukis of Thadao, Changson, Singson etc. These writers even identified the class of these tribes. But the British records never mentioned anything about the Hmars or any of the twelve Hmar clans that are present in N.C. Hills today. As per the 1901, 1911, 1921 and 1931 census records there were no Hmars in N.C. Hills. No census was taken in 1941 due to outbreak of the II World War. However in 1951 after the formation of the N.C. Hills District Council, the Hmar population in N.C. Hills was 1145 only. But due to continuous influx from Manipur, the population of the Hmars have increased so much so that today they constitute the 3rd largest population in N.C. Hills. This obviously cannot be attributed to biological growth. The sudden increase of Hmar population in N.C. Hills started from early 1960s. Initially confined to Purana Retzol and few hamlets in Jinam Valley, they started to increase their holdings at Muolhoi, Saron, New Zoar, New Retzol and Boro Mulkhoi. The Hmars claim that they had shifted from Jinam valley area. But the exodus from Jinam Valley area far and few in between. The transfer certificate of the Hmar students showed that most of the students were studying in Manipur. Another strategy which the Hmar people adopted was to enlist their names in the Hmar village council and then shift to new establishments named above. This strategy adopted was to avoid detection of migration from Manipur, Cachar etc. The Late Lalvuana Hmar, who was an Executive Member of N.C. Hills District Council is known to be from Churachandpur, Manipur though he claimed to have spent his childhood in Jinam area. It was during his tenure as executive Member of the District Council that the villages of Saron and New Zoar, amongst others, were established. The establishment of villages of Bethel and Hebron, a Hmar village in Umrangsu are very recent. As matter of fact the villagers of Hebron speak Manipuri language. Another case as an example is that of one late Burel, APS, who came to N.C. Hills from Maniour and obtained his graduation from Haflong College and managed to procure the coveted post in the Assam Police Service by showing his permanent address at Moulhoi in N.C. Hills. The above two cases are prominent ones and hence finds mention in this brief note. But this is an indicator to what lies beneath the tip of the iceberg. Another aspect particular to the Hmar tribe is similar to that of the famous story of the `Arabs Camel'. They are known to have caused trouble wherever they were allowed to settle. As per their own legends and Historical records the Hmars first entered India through Manipur where they are known to be causing trouble to this day. The Hmars expanded from Manipur to Mizoram and Assam (Cachar and N.C. Hills). Even in Mizoram they have caused trouble to such an extent that they had to be given Hill Development Council. The Assam Government Under the Late Hiteswar Saikia had granted the Hmars a development Council in Cachar District. But in spite of all these pampering they have massacred their Dimasa neighbours which has lead to ethnic clashes. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS: 1. Last part of 2002 2 Dimasas killed in Muolhoi Village, N.C. Hills. 2. 26.2.2003 3 DHD cadres kidnapped (and believed to be killed) at Zoar Village, N.C. Hills. Search by DHD cadres and Hmar Villagers roughed up in the process. 3. 31.3.2003 Dimasa villages of Chekercham, Jurkhal and Mednatol, in Cachar District torched by Hmar Militants; 28 killed. 4. 3.4.03 One Kuki youth killed at Diyungmukh, N.C. Hills – a case of mistaken identity. 5. 4.4.03 Dimasa people retaliate by lynching train passengers belonging to Hmar community between Railway stations of Manderdisa and Maibang in N.C. Hills.. 6 5.4.03 Longma village, N.C. Hills torched by Hmars 7. 8th to 15th April 2003 Curfew clamped down as New Zoar, Saron, Retzol, Hebron and Simthuilung burnt by Dimasas; Shemkhor (a sacred village of the Dimasas), and Thaba Village burnt by Hmars. 8. 16.4.2003 Day Curfew lifted as peace returned after peace talks between Hmar leaders, Church leaders, Dimasa leaders and DHD leaders. 9. 7.5.03 Two DHD cadres killed at Retzol, N.C. Hills by Hmar militants ; peace disrupted – tension created. 10. 12.5.03 Lenzou Tuolor, a Hmar leader killed and in retaliation, Normendu Langthasa, son of Assam Minister, Sri GC Langthasa killed. Curfew clamped down again but relaxed after a few days. 11. 28.5.2003 Hamjoi Daulagupu, a 17 year old Dimasa youth killed in the heart of Haflong Bazaar; curfew reimposed. 12. 31.5.03 Choto Longren (Jibro) Village, N.C. Hills torched ; 2 Dimasas killed. (few days prior the Army had raided this village and seized all the licensed guns of the villagers leaving them defenceless) 13. 1.6.03 Bethel village, N.C. Hills burnt by Dimasas; two Dimasas killed in Lailang and Thoi villages by Hmars. Thus it is clear from the chronology shown above that the Hmars have been the provocating factor in the clashes with the Dimasas all along. The first act of violence (of barbarous proportions) were perpetrated by the Hmars on 31.3.2003. And that too on the villagers who had no role on any of the alleged "atrocities" cited by the Hmars. From 15th April to 7th May , there were no incidents of violence. Peace parleys were in process. Then on 7th May,2003, two DHD cadres were killed at Retzol by HPC(D) militants. After the incidents of 12.5.2003 at Haflong town, again there was calm and situation was inching towards normalcy, then on 28.5.2003 the Hmars struck again followed by torching of a Dimasa village and killing of two villagers three days later. The logical inference is that the Hmars are the provocateurs. The 3rd June issue of `Amar Asom', an Assamese daily carries an article wherein it is mentioned that the central intelligence have reported that the Hmars have created a `Hmar Protection Cell' solely for the purpose of eliminating the Dimasas and have gathered at Bhuban Pahar of N.C. Hills and that one U.S. based Hmar has sent them 80 lakh dollars to buy weapons like R.P.G. and AK rifles. It may be mentioned that recently Mr. Rochunga Pudaite, a U.S. based Hmar missionary had appealed, with concocted facts, to the Christians worldwide and in particular of the U.S. to donate for the cause of the `Hmar Christian' refugees. Mr. Pudaite estimates the cost of rebuilding a village hut at about 1,250 dollars which is unrealistic. The ostensible reason is to divert funds for ulterior motives like purchase of firearms. The genesis of the ethnic clashes has so far been attributed to atrocities, as alleged, perpetrated by DHD cadres on Hmar villages. Not only this, the demand of Dimaraji by DRDC and the renaming of N.C.Hills as Dimahalali has been highlighted as grave injustice to non Dimasas and therefore the carnage at three villages of Cachar was justified ! This is disconcerting from the point of view of the Dimasas that the media in various forms has accepted this. The media has not taken the pains to analyse the social aspect in its true perspective. Invariably, any ethnic conflict finds root on two issues, namely, 1. Religious, linguistic and cultural intolerance and 2. Economic competition on a plane of communal divide. Having to share lands and jostling for jobs with people of another state is by itself a factor which gave birth to a sense of insecurity in terms of both present and future. It also true that political forces had allowed events to take its own course completely ignoring the fact that this would culminate into the turmoil which the peace loving people of N.C. Hills are finding themselves in today. The concept of sharing and peaceful co-existence, as is evident, is not a social trait of the Hmar community. Why this migration to N.C. Hills from Manipur? Why can't the Hmar community have a peaceful co-existence in those places? It is the lure of the land and other economic benefits together with harbouring of political ambitions that has led to exodus to N.C. Hills where the revenue administration is slack and facilitated by political factors. This note should not be construed as an attempt to justify the recent violences. The incidents of March 2003 are culmination of the phenomenon and social factors indicated briefly above. Only a proper understanding of the social History of N.C. Hills will enable a proper appreciation of the recent incidents of violence which hitherto was foreign to the inhabitants of the District. The Dimasas, the Jeme Nagas, the Kukis, the Hrangkhols, the Bietes lived a peaceful coexistence for hundred years. The tolerant attitude of the Dimasas were taken for granted and the continuous exodus of the Hmars with sure indications of designs for economic and political gains became evident. The influx of Hmars which started in ones and twos in the pre- independence period snow balled into an avalanche by late 60s and has precipitated the inevitable. IMMEDIATE SOLUTION: The cadres of the militant group of the Hmar People's Conference (Democratic) have started to infiltrate into N.C. Hills. The most recent acts of violence perpetrated on the Dimasas are the handiwork of the HPC (D) cadres. The HPC (D) needs to be flushed out from N.C. Hills and only then the atmosphere conducive to peace talks, and rehabilitation of uprooted families will return. --- End forwarded message --- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ivy Blue 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2013 if the HPC (D) cadres. The HPC (D) needs to be flushed out from N.C. Hills than the DHD and all other faction(dimasa) must be flushed as well. NB-GOD's people don't die,he who dies is an evil! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites