At least 8 people were injured at Maibang in Dima Hasao district on Thursday when police opened fire at the protestors who blocked the railway tracks in protest against proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao district in Greater Nagalim.
Among the eight injured, four persons received serious injuries and they were taken to the Civil Hospital at Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao, for better treatment. The other four persons, who received minor injuries, are undergoing treatment at Maibang.
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A large number of protestors took to the street in Maibang, the headquarters of the Maibang Sub-division and blocked the railway tracks at the Maibang Railway Station and stopped movement of train through the station as part of the 12-hour Dima Hasao bandh called by several organizations of Dima Hasao.
The protesting organizations have sought clarification from the State and Central Governments regarding the recent media reports stating that in the Framework Agreement, signed between the Central Government and the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), where it has been proposed that Dima Hasao district would come under Greater Nagalim.
The Dima Hasao organizations have opposed any such move.
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The bandh was called by Jadike Naiso Hosom (JNH), Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU), Dimasa Women’s Society (DSW) and Dimasa Mothers’ Association (DMA).
The bandh, which started at 5 am, will continue till 5 pm.
Normal life in the hill district of Dima Hasao has been affected due to the bandh.
The protestors who gathered in large number in Maibang Railway Station since the morning blocked the Silchar-bound train and staged protest demonstration.
They blocked the railway lines by placing boulders on the railway tracks. The situation turned tense when the railway tracks were displaced and the line was disconnected by the protestors so that the Silchar-bound train can’t move.
After this, the sub-divisional administration became more alert with police forces against the protestors.
Despite that the situation went out of control and the protesters also damaged the engine of the train.
At this, the police forces launched crackdown on the protestors.
The protestors also started pelting stones at the policemen.
The police also had to open fire at the protestors in which at least 8 people were injured.
Among the injured include Samarjit Sengyung from Maibang, Probani Hakmaosa from Wajao, Thaisring Hojai from Didaodip, Mithun Dibragede from Manayunghadi, Alpol Langthasa from Nobdi Langting and Vishal Hojai from Maibang.
The sub-divisional administration un-boarded about 3,000 passengers from the Silchar-bound and has kept them in the Maibang Higher Secondary School for their safety. Food facility has also been extended to them.
On the other hand, to take stock of the situation, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Dima Hasao reached Maibang.
DSU general secretary Praneet Senguin said that the people of Dima Hasao are worried over the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao in Greater Nagalim as reported in the recent media reports.
He said that the Maibang incident is responsible for the reported proposal.
However, the DSU leader urged all to maintain peace and harmony in the district.
In the same tune, the president of Dimasa Mothers’ Association (DMA), Agnes Gorlosa said that the situation in Dima Hasao has been disturbed only due to the draft plan of the Framework Agreement reportedly prepared by RSS leader Jagdamba Mall. “However, there is neither any comment from Mall nor the Government has made any written clarification in this regard,” she added.
Meanwhile, in protest against police firing at Maibang, a 48-hour Dima Hasao bandh has been called with effect from 5 am of January 26, 2018 up to 5 am of January 28.
Those who have called for the bandh have demanded a written statement from the government on the Nagalim issue in the context of Dima Hasao, immediate suspension of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Dima Hasao. Compensation of Rs 5 lakh has also been demanded for each of the injured persons. However, milk, water supply and medical service have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.