Members of the PCPIA said that they suspected a “third party” was creating the unrest in the district, which was once a tourists’ destination. Lachit Bordoloi, Dilip Patgiri, Birinchi Neog, the well known figures of PCPIA made a scathing attack on the Tarun Gogoi led Congress government in Assam for its failure to arrest the situation and the security forces for their “dubious role”.
The PCPIA called upon the two tribes to maintain peace at all costs. Further, it demanded the restoration of normalcy, protection of the lives and property of the citizens, urgent political solution to armed conflict, compensation and rehabilitation of the victims and a high level inquiry into the alleged inaction of the administration.
Speaking on behalf of the Zeme Nagas, I. Zeme criticized the role of the state government in tackling the situation. I. Zeme clarified that the present flare-up in the district had nothing to do with the demand of Naga insurgent groups NSCN (Isak-Muivah) for ‘Greater Nagalim.’
Aripum Bodo, vice president of NC Hills unit of All Dimasa Students’ Union regretted that government had not been able to rein in the activities of militants in NC Hills so far. Meanwhile, the PCPIA is planning to send a delegation to NC Hills again later this month to directly establish contact and meet the leaders of extremist groups operating there in a bid to restore normalcy. “This is the job of government. However, since they’re not doing anything, we had to come into the picture,” said PCPIA leader Birinchi Neog.