Zeme Nagas cry for help

Villagers ask Nagaland government to intervene

Women take out a peace rally at Haflong in North Cachar Hills district on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections Kohima/Guwahati, June 14 : Zeme Nagas have sought the immediate intervention of the Nagaland government to check the alleged human rights violation in the trouble-torn North Cachar Hills district of Assam and safeguard the life and property of the people living there. The community has also accused Dimasa rebels of being behind the run of terror in the autonomous district. In view of the cycle of attacks, Assam Governor S.C. Mathur took over the administrative control of the district under powers vested in him by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The chief executive member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council was sent to judicial custody for alleged links with militants. Mathur, it is understood, was reluctant to assume charge and wanted the government to improve the law and order situation in the district by choking militants’ funds routes, expediting the East-West Corridor and ensuring resumption of train services. He even had a threadbare discussion last night with advocate general A.K. Phookan, chief secretary P.C. Sharma and hill area development commissioner P. Sharan. “Raj Bhavan was apprehensive because it did not want to fail in improving the situation in North Cachar Hills. All his queries had been answered to his satisfaction at last night’s meeting,” a source said. Though the notification to this effect is yet to be issued by Dispur, both the newly appointed superintendent of police Anurag Tankha and principal secretary Diwakar Nath Mishra today inspected the office of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. The tour was part of the administration’s efforts to beef up the security at the council office. While the administration chalked out its own plans, a Naga organisation appealed to youths to protect the innocent Dimasas. “Let them live in peace”, Gwangphun Gangmei, general secretary of Zeliangrong Hoho, the apex body of Zemes, Liangmais and Rongmais, said. Several Naga tribes and organisations have appealed to Zemes and Dimasas to halt violence in the hills. On its part, the Nagaland government once again assured the displaced Zeme Nagas that it would take up the matter with the Centre and the Assam government. Nagaland commissioner H.K. Khulu recently visited the refugee camps in Jalukie subdivision of Peren.