400 Zeliangrong villagers displaced by NC Hills violence

SOBHAPATI SAMOM | IMPHAL, March 30 – Nearly 400 Zeliangrong people in Assam’s Haflong area under North Cachar district have been displaced after the recent violence and subsequent killing of five villagers allegedly by DHD (Jewel) militants at Haflong area recently. Presently around 400 Zeliangrong people from eight Haflong villages have started to arrive at Tousem sub-division in Manipur’s Tamenglong district bordering Assam to take shelter. Informed sources said the death toll in North Cachar Hills violence has reached seven since it broke out on March 11 last.

Most of the displaced Zeliangrong villagers were presently taking shelter at various places including Mandeu, Njunkuak, Zenning villages and Tousem sub-division with relatives. On Saturday, around 345 villagers landed at Tousem area, but the number may cross 400 as there are reports of more villagers arriving in the last two days, villagers said. Most of the displaced people are women and children.

“We are collecting the latest figure, but as of now most of them need food and clothes as immediate relief”, Haimasuang, a social worker, who reached Mandeu village along with SDO Tousem Sub-division told The Assam Tribune over telephone today.

Many Zeliangrong organizations, communities, NGOs including Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM), Zeliangrong Students Union Tamenglong District (ZSUTD), Zeliangrong Students Union Tousem Area (ZSUTA), Zeliangrong Pui Baudi and Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong condemned the incident of killing of five Zeliangrong men.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Secretary has reportedly written to his Assam counterpart on Saturday to control the situation in North Cachar Hills.

The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur has appealed to the State Government to assess the condition of the displaced people taking shelter at Tousem range. Convenor of the Union (Tousem Area) Ileilong Newmai has appealed to both Assam and Manipur authorities to restore normalcy in Haflong area besides extending relief material to Zeliangrong refugees.

Source: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar3109/ne

——————————————–

Will there be actions against the MLAs?

People of the state have been made to understand that poor governance is prevailing in the state. The recent incident by two MLAs inside Kaziranga National Park has drawn the attention of nature lover from all over state. Various organisations have demanded to take action against the guilty MLAs who have violated laws and damaged the property of KNP. A public protest was organised by various civil society organisation on 29th at Guwahati demanding the authorities to take necessary actions against the MLAs who went on rampage in KNP on March 17.

Members of several frontline nature and wildlife conservation organisation staged in sit- in demonstration in Guwahati demanding stern action against the two legislators of Assam legislative Assembly, Jiten Gogoi and Kushol Duori, who had recently gone on rampage in KNP.The MLAs had entered Kohora Range of the National Park with automatic weapons and fishing equipment to fish illegally. The offending MLAs and their associates also damaged park’s property before escaping.

“It is really a shameful matter for us that in spite of knowing that the MLAs are guilty no action has been taken against them”, said Bibhab Talukdar, a leading wildlife conservationist from the region. Assam Government must take action against them as they have violated wildlife protection act and assaulted forest officials from KNP, he added. Aaranyak, Eco – Systems – India, WWF-India, dolphin Foundation, Early Birds and other NGOs strongly condemned the physical attack on forest officials and damage to property in Kaziranga by the MLAs and their associates.

It is to be mentioned that two FIRs were lodged at the Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat district against the two MLAs under Case No. 42/91 under sections 147,148,149,447,353 and 427 of Indian Panel Code: under section 7 of the Indian arms Act; and under section 51 of wildlife protection Act of 1972 as amended in 2006 and the case no. 43/09 under section 147,148,149,447,353 and 506 under Indian panel Code.

The state Police has remained inactive and content by simply declaring these high profile accused as absconders but they were telecasted by some local and national channels days after the incident. If these electronic media can reach them why the police have failed to reach them is a paradox amongst the nature lovers of the state. It has made simple for anyone to understand that as the elections are approaching the Assam Police might be under political pressures as political parties would need favor from these MLAs.

The NGOs have demanded immediate arrest of the accused persons without further delay and urge the state government to take stern action in the interest of protecting the sanctity of a world heritage site.

Source: http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/2858.html

.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.