Homeless, Afraid and Vulnerable

Displaced Rengma Nagas apprehensive of returning home

Morung Expres News
Dimapur | June 18

More than six hundred fear-struck Rengma Nagas of Karbi-Anglong are apprehensive of returning to their villages even as the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) backtracked on the alleged ‘quit notice’ served by them. More than six hundred men, women and children are taking shelter at a relief camp at Chokihola, Karbi-Anglong, which lies close to the border with Golaghat district. The relief camp is located about 30 kilometers away north-west of Silonijan, near Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary. 

The displaced, taking shelter at Chokihola, had marched from Lolangshongyu and Tseguchangri villages after news of the alleged KPLT ultimatum spread. Tseguchangri is about 25 kilometers away from the relief camp while Lolangshongyu is about 9 kilometers away. 

“We’re afraid to go back but we’ve to go... what will we do here? All our belongings are back in the village,” said a young mother of four at the relief camp. The woman, who did not wish to give her name fearing retaliation, said that her family had marched from Tseguchangri nearly two weeks back seeking shelter at Chokihola. According to some of the people in the camp, the exodus had actually started even before the alleged KPLT ultimatum made it to the news. 

Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) members and district administration officials had visited the camp the day before requesting the displaced villagers to return to their homes but the villagers are still apprehensive. Many of the villagers feel that there is no guarantee that they can be safe, notwithstanding the verbal assurances of security from the KAAC and the administration. 

The villagers were forced to abandon their villages leaving behind livestock, poultry and their fields – things dear to village-dwelling folks. With toddlers on their backs and those old enough to walk following them, the villagers trekked from their villages all the way to the relief camp. The clothes they wore were the only personal belongings they could carry. As on Tuesday, according to figures made available, children outnumbered adults among the displaced. Many other villagers from the affected area are reported to be taking shelter in unspecified locations. 

The affected area is barely 40 kilometers west of National Highway 29, which cuts through Bokajan sub-division, yet the region is so isolated with barely the basic of modern amenity available. According to the villagers, they have no mobile phone coverage and no electricity and the 25-kilometer or so of road to Tseguchangri from the nearest police outpost - Chokihola Police Station - takes more than three hours by car.   

Additional Superintendent of Police, Karbi-Anglong, Bolin Deori, who visited the camp on Tuesday said that adequate security has been put in place at the affected villages. The para-military and even the Army have been requisitioned aside from the police, the ASP said of the security arrangement. A platoon from the Army will be stationed at Barlongso, under which falls Tseguchangri, added the ASP. Barlongso was said to have been the worst affected area. Stating that there has been no report of violence since the alleged ultimatum went public, the ASP said, “I don’t think the situation will worsen.” 

The displaced villagers on the other hand are of the opinion that there must be formal and written assurance of security from the KPLT, the Karbi-Anglong district administration as well as the KAAC. 

Meanwhile, a joint team of representatives from the Rengma Hoho, Dimapur; Rengma Baptist Churches, and Rengma Students Union, Dimapur visited the camp on Tuesday with relief material. More goodwill teams from Nagaland are expected to visit the site on Wednesday.