Violence in Rengma areas of Karbi Anglong

staff Reporter DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 SIX people died and three others went missing after simmering communal tension between the Karbis and Rengma Nagas in Karbi Anglong, Assam, flared up this morning. The violence broke out in Phangcherop area under Borpathar Police Station when according to sources,heavily armed suspected Karbi People Liberation Tiger (KPLT) activists invaded Khonwani Goan, a Rengma Naga village, at around 6 a.m.In the violence, four Rengma Nagas including three women and one male of the village were killed, while three youth were reported missing. The attackers also set fire to their homes and granary. “Four bodies were found after the clash. An unconfirmed report suggested that two KPLT cadres also succumbed to their injuries but their bodies are yet to be recovered,” Assam’s commissioner-secretary (home) GD Tripathi said. He added that the situation is tense but under control. “The four died after they were attacked by the militants. The militants came in civvies and torched some houses before going on a shooting spree,” I Rengma, president of Rengma Naga People’s Council, said. The deceased have been identified as Mrs Ngashenle Rengma (70 years), Mrs Rhinghole Rengma (50 years), Mrs Logule Rengma (40 years) and Mr Kegwathong Rengma. The president added that the “DC, SP and DIG are on their way to the sensitive villages. Three additional companies of the central paramilitary force have been rushed to the affected areas,” he said. The other two dead are suspected to be KPLT cadres who were killed in a similar incident in Khanari Goan, another Rengma Naga village, at around 10:30 a.m.Marauding activists resorted to indiscriminate firing and arson on home and granaries. It was reported that the irate public of the village retaliated against the perpetrated act of violence resulting in the death of two Karbi youth. Their identities were yet to be ascertained till the filing of this report. Sources informed that the bodies of those killed in today’s incident have been transported to Diphu for post mortem and other necessary formalities. The communal colours between the two communities took a nasty turn on December 14, when two persons suspected to be KPLT activists entered the Rengma village called Lolashonyu (Sarihuti) and shouted at the villagers with provocative terms for war between the two communities. Again on December 15 evening, the villagers apprehended two Karbi youth John Rongphar and Deven Tuso who disclosed their involvement in the kidnap and murder of late Nzankhen Rengma, son of late Rabong Rengma of Güzenlanyu goan. Late Nzankhen was kidnapped on October 21. Further, it was reported that KPLT along with the public of Lokhiram village (Upper Daigrom goan) had physically assaulted and rendered black and blue, one Rengma pastor of Chogilashoo (Sathi) goan on December 19. Sources also informed that para-military forces and army have already been deployed in the area to control the situation. The situation in the area was reported under grip of tension till the filing of this report. The Nagas have a sizeable population in the district. A section of them eke out a living by doing orange plantation. The Karbi militants were said to be peeved with the Naga farmers’ refusal to pay ‘taxes’ to them. Panic over a possible ethnic riot gripped people in the district after two back-to-back incidents of assault involving the Nagas and the Karbis recently. After Friday’s killings, social organisations belonging to both the ethnic communities have appealed to people to restraint for the maintenance of peace. They alleged that a third force with ‘vicious interests’ was trying to fan communal passion in the district. The KPLT is a breakaway faction of the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front which laid down arms in 2010. It was formed to achieve an autonomous state for the Karbis. Meanwhile, in a strongly worded press release, the Rengma Hoho Dimapur has condemned the attack on Rengma Nagas terming it a ‘carnage’. They have appealed to the Assam government to make safety arrangements at the earliest for those taking refuge in the relief camps being set up. The Hoho has also sought guarantee from the Assam government for taking measures in future to preempt a repeat of attacks of such nature on the indigenous Rengmas of Assam. (Inputs from Agencies)