Mass exodus from Karbi Anglong as situation is tense

Kheroni, July 20: Karbis and Biharis are fleeing Kheroni in Assam's Karbi Anglong district following ethnic violence, which claimed 23 lives in the past week. Member of Parliament Janayant Rongpi and legislator Holiram Terang went to the spot Friday to pacify the Karbis, who are in a minority. Superintendent of Police Anil Phukan, who has been camping here along with deputy Inspector-General of Police (central western range) Dilip Bora, said the situation was tense and there was mistrust between the two communities. The killing of six youths in Thesso Ranghing by Biharis, in the presence of the police, heightened ethnic tension on July 10. "The Biharis encircled the village and called the police from Jenkha. The police called out the youths one after another and instigated the Biharis to kill them. At least, two of them died of bullet shots," alleged Honsing Terang of the Karbi Students Association. According to Bora, the clashes were a result of a changing demographic pattern in the area. The Biharis, who opened the forest areas of Karbi Anglong for cultivation in the early fifties, are in a majority in the Hamren sub-division growing sugarcane. The Karbis resent the Biharis' economic clout. "The common Karbi is peaceful. However, the United People's Democratic Solidarity, which has around 50 boys armed with self-loading rifles and AK-47s, is responsible for most killings of Biharis, including in Langparpan where 11 people were killed," Bora explained. According to Terang, the July 17 killings were the handiwork of the government. "These were in retaliation for the Langparpan killings. Family members of UPDS leaders in three villagers near Kheroni were eliminated. This further complicated the issue," the legislator said. Bora admitted, "We are yet to find the miscreants. But it is apparent that the killings were organised," he said. Although there have not been major incidents for the last two nights, everyone is apprehensive of another round of retaliatory killings, especially after the slaughter of the UPDS leaders' kin and the six youths. Fleeing Biharis are transferring valuables to safer points around Kheroni. "The killers have not spared even two-year-olds. Some of us will return, but the women, children and, more importantly, the grain will be kept at Kheroni Tiniali," said Jugnu Chauhan who was leading a caravan of 11 bullock carts. Such caravans were common on the Jenkha-Kheroni road on Thursday despite the district police authorities organising peace committee meetings all over the vast but thinly populated district.