Tension Escalates in Eastern Karbi Anglong

Diphu- Amid continuing tension in the riot heat Chokihola and Santipur locality of Eastern Karbi Anglong, security forces are gradually taking control of the situation.

Yesterday, skeletal remains of another body was found by police near Sathi Basti where 13 houses were burned down by miscreants. The police has arranged for a DNA test of the remains of the body to know gender. Curfew was reduced in strife torn Chokihola locality for four hours. However night curfew will continue as informed by police.

The police has arrested nine persons allegedly for their involvement with violent activity including a former VDC (village development committee) chairman and active member of ruling Congress party of the locality Rolen Engti and several other persons connected with congress party mostly. DIG Central Range of Assam Pradip Saloi informed the local media that additional 3 companies of security forces are assisting in counter insurgency operation in the area.

Today five relief camps are operating in the affected areas sheltering around one thousand people of both the community, according to police report.

Hundreds of Rengma inhabitants of affected areas have reached nearby Dimapur city of Nagaland and capital city Kohima, where a large solidarity rally was organized by various Naga commune yesterday. The Naga Mother Association, Naga Hoho leaders called up on the Karbi people to shun violence and upheld the spirit of brotherhood. The leaders appealed to Assam government to pay adequate compensation to the kin of the deceased and take up long term measure for economic growth of the Rengmas. Arrest of those involved in carnage, deployment of army and banning of KPLT were other demands of the Naga civil society. They also demanded setting up of a high power commission to uncover the actual cause behind the ethnic pogrom.

In the middle of brutality and senseless murder of innocent life, the heroic act of Benar Ingti resident of a Karbi village of Koilamati locality has gained applause from cross section of people.

The ethnic clash has been condemned by a conglomeration of 12 civil organizations representing various ethnic communities and student organizations including different factions of Karbi Students Association, women organization and literary body like Karbi Lamait Ami, Bodo frontal organization and Rengma Naga Cultural Association.

Sushanta Roy is a journalist in Assam, India, who photographs and writes about the people, animals and flora of Assam, and the things that affect them.