In fact, the North Cachar Hills could be termed as a microcosm of North East India with a difference: ten or more tribes used to co-exist peacefully, sharing the everyday joys and burdens of life. Sadly, the district has not been able to escape the ethnic tensions raging in its bordering states of Nagaland and Manipur and has fallen to a similar trajectory of ethnic violence. The hill district is a sparsely populated area with a population of 1,86,189 according to the 2001 census of which 1.51 lakh are Dimasas, with the rest being Jemes, Hmar, Kuki, Biate, Hrangkhol, Khelma, Jaintia, Karbi and Vaiphei.
It is rather painful to see the unfolding events in recent months which have witnessed bloodshed between the Dimasas, the major tribe and the Jeme Nagas, the largest minority tribe in the area. From March 2009 till date, the inter-ethnic violence between the two tribes has resulted in 63 deaths (39 Nagas and 24 Dimasas). 528 houses have been burnt of which 228 belonged to Nagas and 300 to Dimasas.
While there were telling signs that violence might erupt, but that it would result in a violent conflict between the Jeme Nagas and the Dimasas so suddenly was not foreseen. Earlier, the violence had been between the Dimasas and the Hmars and the militant factions.