Twenty-five days after the outbreak of violence between Karbi and Dimasa tribes, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today visited the strife-torn hill district of Assam, even as a Union Home Ministry official said the government might consider disarming Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) and United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) if they did not put an end to the attacks. After his visit to two relief camps, Jaiswal left for Guwahati where he discussed the issue with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Meanwhile, an Army brigade consisting of three battalions would be moved into Karbi Anglong, sources said. The decision was taken after the visit of the GoC Four Corps and head of the operational command of Unified Command Structure, Lt Gen H S Lidder. The UPDS, which wants a separate state for Karbis, and the DHD, which is a Dimasa tribal outfit and wants a separate “Dimaraji” state, had reached ceasefire agreements with the Centre in May 2002 and December 2003 respectively. According to the ceasefire ground rules, the outfits are supposed to keep their cadres in designated camps identified by the government. Intelligence reports say both have indulged in arson in which 78 people have been killed and over 28,000 rendered homeless. Seven more bodies were today recovered at Prisek under Kheroni police station, where Dimasa militants had set ablaze three Karbi villages earlier. Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, who had toured the affected areas yesterday, said the government would deal sternly with the two militant outfits if they were found to be involved in violence. CPM demands Central govt’s intervention NEW DELHI: Demanding the Centre’s intervention, the CPM on Thursday sought deployment of security forces to restore peace in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Accusing the state government of failing to intervene effectively, the party, in a statement said, “For three weeks, attacks and counter-attacks involving Karbi and Dimasa tribal communities have led to 75 people being killed and hundreds of houses being set on fire and burnt down.”
