Displaced persons from the Silonijan Relief Camp, Bokajan sub division, wave on March 20, 2014, as they head back home for the first time since December 2013.
Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong begin the move back home
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 20
The Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong, Assam, finally have some respite. 542 displaced persons of the 1002 people lodged in the Silonijan Relief Camp, Bokajan Sub division, made their move home in a full body truck today. The ones going back to their villages hail from Phencherop, Ridongü, Khonwani, Khanari, Chogilashonyu (Sathigaon), Richangari and Choshentongri. More than thousand Rengma Nagas were displaced from 15 villages of Karbi Anglong after concerted attacks on them since December, 2013.
However, 109 displaced persons in the Purana Borpathar LP School and 218 in the Borpathar LP School are yet to make the move—they are from the villages of Rinongaon, Balijan I, Balijan II, Jongpha, Akhoiphuta, Lolashonyu, Lorenyu and Tseguchangri (Borlangso).
Following an official letter to the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Bokajan, and Superintendent of Police, Karbi Anglong, by its Deputy Commissioner, PK Buragohain, on March 14, people have felt reassured enough to head back home. As per the letter, the DC has requested the SDO (Civil) to “kindly arrange for providing adequate logistic support/ G.R. materials including security to the inmates while returning to their villages (under Chowkihola and Borpathar P.S. areas).”
Funds and relief material have been sanctioned by the Government of Assam to 101 displaced and conflict-affected families from the region, informed the DC, PK Buragohain, which have already reached the SDO (Civil), Bokajan and cleared by the Election Commission of India for distribution before the election, he said. The DC, as per the letter dated March 14, has also requested the SP, Karbi Anglong, to “provide security to the camp inmates during transit and in their violence affected villages for a considerable period.” Apart from the paramilitary, the Rengma Nagas were promised 16 fixed pickets of the Assam Police in the affected areas for a year by the Government of Assam, but these essential security checks have been lowered since “people are not there” and “elections are due,” according to the DC.
Sources suggest that a nod of approval has come from the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, to facilitate the safe passage of people, and the setting up of a temporary relief camp in the villages while their homes are being rebuilt.
The Rengma Naga Students’ Union (RNSU) and Rengma Naga Mothers’ Association (RNMA) from Diphu visited the relief camps today, and informed that the Council of Rengma Baptist Churches is assisting in reconstruction activities in affected villages. The RNSU and RNMA found the relief camps in a dismal state of hygiene, and a medical check-up found a high degree of communicable diseases among the displaced persons, especially women and children.
President of the RNSU, Phenpiga H. Rengma, appealed the Government of Assam that people going back “should be given ration for at least a year, people in the relief camps should be provided with vehicles by the government to take them home, people whose houses and granaries were burnt should be compensated immediately and free medical check-ups should be conducted on a regular basis for all those displaced.” He requested the road being constructed to the Rengma Naga areas, for the first time in history, to be properly made. “We hope for peace in Karbi Anglong, and no misunderstanding between the hills Scheduled Tribes in the future,” he stated.
