SHILLONG, April 27 — The Hmar people have strongly warned the Dimasa people and Assam Government that they must not be held responsible for any future catastrophe if the terror tactics and the oppressive methods unleashed on them (Hmars) are not immediately stopped. In a faxed statement to North East Press Service here on Thursday, Lalthanmawia Pajamte, Joint Secretary of the apex body of the Hmars, “the Hmar Inpui”, said recent onslaughts against the Hmar people had forced them to a totally defensive position with no options of going offensive.
Ridiculing the peace proposal arranged by the Commissioner of North Cachar Hills and Barak Valley on behalf of the Government of Assam as a hollow exercise since it restricted only Hmars from their free movement, the Hmar Inpui expressed shock at the massive onslaughts against Hmar habitats in Mahur (Saron), lower Retzawl, Umrangso (Hebron) and Halflong (Muolhoi). Pajamte expressed resentment at the indifferent attitude of the Assam Government in settling the crisis despite attacks on Hmars in various places.
President of the Hmar Students Association, Barak Valley (HSABV), Lallawmthang Hmar alleged that the cadres of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) were still moving freely despite the convening of a peace meeting on April 5 by the Government the student leader also alleged that DHD militants had been taking shelters at Borbon Basti, Dalu Bssti, Chaltacherra, Rotonpur, Sonacherra, Mikirpunjee and Subong Khasia and demanded an immediate army combing operation to flush them out from the Dimasa dominated areas.
In another faxed statement to North East Press Service here, the General Secretary of Barak Valley Hill Tribes Union (BVHTU), VL Muonga Pudaite said the onslaughts against the Hmars by the Dimasas in parts of North Cachar Hill and adjoining areas had extensively damaged the peaceful coexistence of various ethnic tribes who had inhabited North Cachar Hills for centuries. The BHVTU leader also expressed the view that the recent unfortunate incidents in North Cachar areas were a propaganda aimed at doing away with the non Dimasas inhabiting parts of Cachar which falls within their demand area and North Cachar Hills for creation of a Dimasa Homeland. And the recent incident was the “first chapter directed against the minority Hmars, Kukis and the Nagas,” he stated.
The Union also vehemently condemned the truce between the DHD and the Government describing it (truce) as a license to the DHD cadres to do whatever they liked without any hindrance. It further asked whether such acts were not tantamount to the violation of the truce ground rules, adding that the Government must suspend the truce pact with the DHD.