Peace rally for justice held

: Special Correspondent
SILCHAR, Jan : A mass rally with placards and festoons was brought out on Monday under the aegis of Jadikhe Naiso Hoshom, Dimasa Mothers’ Association, student bodies and other social organizations which paraded through the main thoroughfares of Haflong, demanding justice and human rights protection. Later on a joint memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister of Asom through the deputy commissioner of NC Hills district.

The memorandum expressed serious concern at the prevailing situation in the Hills district due to the factional feuds and clashes between DHD (Dilip Nunisa) and DHD (Jewel Gorlosa) which often result in killings of the cadres of each other. Even relatives of the factions are becoming victims of gory conflict. Quite shockingly many people including gaon burahs, mauzadars, politicians and people of different communities are also being killed as suspects.
The joint memorandum stresses for declaring bilateral ceasefire with DHD (J) by the government. In spite of army operation, it has been pointed out that people are not safe. Militants are rarely nabbed. Innocent people are picked up, tortured and killed without any reason. Several such cases have been cited by the signatories to the memorandum. During 2008 alone, about 100 people, civilians, security and extremists were killed in the district.

Many have become widows and orphans in this orgy violence. Many have been disabled for life. The continuing violence has seriously affected normal life and created a reign of panic among people who are virtually sandwiched between the strikes of extremists and counter insurgency operations of the security forces. People have lost the right to existence.

Besides the activities of DHD (J) or DHD (Dilip), the district is also caught in the vortex of extremism of NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), HPC, KNA, MC and KNLF who are freely operating in the district, extorting money and resorting to violent actions. The memorandum calls for tough measures in order to control the militant organization. It also urges upon the government to take initiative for adequate payment of ex-gratia to the victims of violence. source: sentinel assam