Assam clash: Hmars strike again, 100 Dimachas flee

Armed members of the Hmar People Convention (HPC) had attacked two villages, Meghanathal and Chekarcham, and set fire to over 70 houses on Monday night. They had fired at random, before abducting 28 Dimacha men. Twenty-three of their bodies were found in the dense forests of Mastulpahar, on Wednesday evening.

Police sources at Silchar said the bodies bore multiple bullet marks. Several of them had their hands and feet bound with rope. They added that the Hmars and Dimachas have been engaged in a string of retaliatory attacks. On February 28, the HPC had allegedly abducted three members of the underground Dimacha group, Dima Halam Daoga (DHD), in connivance with the NSCN(IM). In retaliation, DHD militants had raided a Hmar village station on March 5. The latest massacre is being seen as the Hmars’ attempt to settle scores.