Dimapur, July 24 (MExN): The Rengma Hoho has written to the local commission set up to address the border dispute between Nagaland and Assam. The Hoho has demanded restoration of lands that once belonged to the Rengmas before transfer by the British administration.
Submitting a representation to the chairman of the commission, Justice SN Variava, the Hoho stated that with the transfer of the Rengma hills into Nowgong and Golaghat districts (erstwhile Sibsagar district) 80% of Rengma-inhabited lands were transferred to Assam. Only 20% of the hill tracts are now in possession with the Rengmas presently under Kohima, it stated. Administrative reports of the British clearly indicate that the Rengma hills which is now forming a chunk of Karbi Anglong (erstwhile Mikir hills) district and North Chachar hills, was a part of the Naga Hills district; the Rengmas and the Zemi Nagas living in contiguous areas of the Naga Hills were thus separated from the present Dimapur and Kohima districts, the Hoho explained.
The Rengma Hoho has demanded that the Naga Hills boundary fixation of December 25, 1925 notified on the basis of Inner Line Regulation 1873 be nullified; that the entire territory of the Rengma hills on April 18, 1841, with the total area of 10, 434 square kilometers be restored. The Hoho explained that the Rengma hills lie between Bora Dikharo nallah, Ban-Inkhuparbat and Tarapung-Barpung nallah on the north, Jumuna and Diphu river on the south, course of Bora Dikharu and Hora Dikharu on the west and in the east, it’s continuity with the Naga Hills. The Hoho further demanded restoration of all three Rengma Mouzas to Nagaland created by the Revenue proceeding in February 1861 by nullifying the transfer order December 9, 1898, Shillong; restore the land transferred and merged with Nowgong and Sibsagar districts (December 9, 1898, April 11, 1901 and February 24, 1903).
The Hoho also demanded restoration of the Rengmas’ reserved forests (April 13, 1887, September 16, 1901) as well as “Rengma rivers, hills, plains, valley etc.” which were transferred out of the Naga Hills.
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