400 Zeliangrong villagers displaced by NC Hills violence

IMPHAL, March 31 – 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.