It was reported that Dilip Nunisa, in a press conference, directly blamed both the NSCN factions for attacking Dimasa people with an evil eye to trigger racial war between the two communities. But he also admitted that some elements among the Dimasa people have also joined the fight against the Zeme Nagas and are hell bent on defending their own tribe.
The DHD (N) chairman gave a clarion call to both the communities to shun violence as this would retard development. According to sources, the enmity between the tribes started after the North Cachar Autonomous District Council in a resolution renamed the district as Dima Hasao Raji in May, 2008.
Wednesday evening’s attack on a group of Dimasas has been dubbed by Haflong police as revenge killing in a fallout of the gruesome murders of three Zeme Naga women, including a 15-year old girl at Hereguilya.
The five killed on Wednesday’s attack have been identified as Wasi Thangru, M Phonglo, Thingtham Langthasa, Mo Langthasa and Karen Thangru. Over 50 people have been killed in the ethnic clashes since March.
More than 10,000 people from both the communities are taking shelter in 29 relief camps after their houses were torched in the cycle of violence.