G C Langthasa, Minister for Hills Areas Development, AH and Veterinary, etc., Assam has strongly resented the statement issued by Holi Ram Terang, ASDC leader demanding his removal as well as the removal of P Lanthasa, the Chief Executive Member of NC Hills Autonomous Council.

In a statement, Mr Langthasa pointed out that Mr Terang had no moral right and jurisdiction of raising such an "unreasonable demand" and he had also no business to poke his nose in the already complicated state of affairs in North Cachar Hills district, a press release issued by the general secretary of the NC Hills District Congress Committee states.

According to the release, Mr Langthasa said that it was better for Mr Terang to confine his thoughts and activities within Karbi Anglong.

"Of late, Mr Terang had reportedly visited Muolhoi village in NC Hills which is a Hmar dominated area, before killing of the son of Mr Langthasa and again after the killing" the release stated without directly claiming any involvement of Mr Terang in the incident.

Whether the ASDC played any role in the killing and ethnic violence in NC Hills shall be enquired into by the Judicial Enquiry Commission already appointed by the State Government, the release further said.

Langthasa made it clear that he had no political, social or any other connection with Mr Holi Ram Terang and the statement issued by the former is not only unwarranted but the same is likely to fan fare violence.

Mr Langthasa urged the people of NC Hills not to be carried out by the campaign of false propaganda launched by "frustrated" ASDC activists and maintain peace at all costs.

Apex Dimasa body hails truce

The "Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom" (JNH), an apex body of the Dimasas accord welcome the extension of ceasefire between the Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) and the Government of India for a further period of six months with effect from July 1.

The extension of ceasefire has become very significant in view of prevailing ethnic conflict and strife between Dimasas and Hmars in Cachar and NC Hill districts of Assam. Just some days before the expiry of the first term of ceasefire scheduled on June 3, the DHD vice-president, Dilip Nunisa announced that the DHD organization had been on a dilemma whether to continue the ceasefire or not. Being aware of the massacre of thirty Dimasas on March 31 coupled with non-stop killings and arsons perpetrated by Hmar People’s Convention (D), a Hmar militant organization over Dimasas, the DHD authority had not been satisfied with the actions taken by the government against the HPC (D), JNH said.

However, as the situation had been cooled down to some extent specially after the visit of Cabinet sub-committee headed by Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Minister for health etc. of Assam on June 13 to Haflong, the DHD authority had a second thought of extending the ceasefire in the interest of creating a congenial atmosphere for peace talks with the Centre and peaceful co-existence amongst various tribes and communities of Dimasa inhabited regions of Assam, the release further said.

The Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom therefore congratulates the DHD and the Government of India and Assam for extension of ceasefire. The JNH also urged the concerned authorities to initiative peace talks immediately.

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