National

Say Karbi & You're Dead

They bear the brunt of the murderous rage of inter-tribe strife, even as the government dithers on a solution

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Say Karbi & You're Dead
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Is there something more to the current bloodshed in Karbi Anglong? Many Karbi leaders feel the DHD was engaged in what they call an "expansionist campaign". Says Terang, "The DHD is fighting for a Dimaraji state comprising all of North Cachar Hills district and parts of Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts. It is likely that the rebel group is bent on pushing the Karbis out from the Dhunsiri and other areas in Karbi Anglong where Dimasas are a majority." In fact, various Karbi political parties and organisations have been pressing the authorities, even before the violence began, to shift a designated camp of the DHD located in the Dhunsiri area, accusing the Dimasa rebels of moving about with weapons and violating the truce guidelines. DHD chief Nunisa sought to dispel fears. "We are ourselves on the path to peace. Now, in the wake of the current violence, I am prepared to even sit with the UPDS to restore peace in the area."

It is a fact that rebels belonging to both the DHD and the UPDS are getting restive as New Delhi and the Assam government have not really pushed hard on the peace talks so as to arrive at an acceptable solution. DHD chief Nunisa and UPDS spokesman Nongloda agree that their cadres were indeed becoming restless. "It's only natural as the government is not expediting things," says Nunisa. Only three rounds of tripartite talks, involving the UPDS, the Centre and the Assam government have so far been held, the last being on June 14. Similarly, three rounds of such talks have been held with the DHD, the last on June 13.

On October 25, as Karbi and Dimasa leaders belonging to different parties and groups visited the Dhunsiri and Manza areas as part of the district-level peace mission, they were greeted with an ominous silence. "The idea is to bridge the divide between the two communities and convince the people at the relief camps to return to their villages. This is the harvesting season and they must attend to their crops," says Tripathi, the district's young deputy commissioner. But the fear of the midnight knock at their homes atop remote hilltops would keep thousands from returning to their homes, hundreds of which no longer exist as they have been burned down. Recovering in his bed at the Nagaon Civil Hospital, Dilip Ronghang, 20, the helper of the ill-fated bus, who is another lucky survivor, seemed to wonder if his house still stood where it was. It is a question on the minds of many Karbis biding time at the relief camps.

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