Soaring Wings

Haflong, April 10, 2010: The Indigenous Peoples Forum (IPF) of Assam’s NC Hills, has “strongly condemn” yesterday’s police action against students who were demanding the bifurcation NC Hills district in this restive town of Assam.

The Inddigenous Peoples Students Feredation had organised a peaceful bandh yesterday to “assert democratic and citizenship rights” after the Assam government went ahead with renaming of NC Hills to Dima Hasao district to “appease the recently surrendered DHD militants”.

“We are sorry to become victims of discrimination and high-handedness of the Assam Police. Despite the peaceful bandh, the police forces tackled the volunteers of Indigenous Peoples Forum by employing brutal force and resorted to use their destructive guns and weapons,” the IPF organising secretary D.B. Thiek stated in a press release here.

Yesterday Mizoramexpress.com had reported that at least 10 people were injured in police firing. However, nine people have been confirmed by the officals. They are:

1. Lalengzaua Hauhnar (24) S/o Thommin Hauhnar
N Leikul Village
Bullet injury in the chest and arm

2. Tongginlal Lhouvum (22) S/o Ngulkholun Lhouvum
N Leikul Village
Bullet injury in the abdomen

3. Luthau Singson (24) S/o Letlam Singson
Bullet injury on the right arm

4. Sumsanglawm Zate (30) S/o Laihlitho Zate
Bullet injury on the right leg

5. Teusuibe Zeme(32)

6. Teutuile Zeme (22)

7. Miss Isatleing Riame (22)

8. Haimuing

9. Miss Adinle Kuame (30) D/o (L) Kileiting Kuame

Demanding the suspension of Amitabh Singha APS (ASP) and O/c Shankar Swarggwary of the Assam Police, currently posted in Haflong, NC Hills the IPF said, “They (the two officers) have come under the whims and fancy of the communal Dimasa people. We strongly condemned the two officials who have lost their integrity, fairness, truth and justice in such crucial time.”

The Indigenous Peoples Forum (IPF) comprising Hmar, Kuki, Jeme Naga, Biete etc are demanding the bifurcation of NC Hills into two autonomous district council; “one for the diverse tribes who composed the majority (64%) under the same NC Hills and one for the Dimasa (34%) with whatever name of their choice”.