Hailakandi, Aug. 26: The District Tribal Sangha of Hailakandi has demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Reang, Rongmei Naga, Khasi, Jaintia, Chakma and Sakachep tribes living here.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister today, the Sangha alleged that ST status has been provided to these tribes only in the two hill districts ? North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong ? but in the other districts of Assam they have been categorised as ?hill tribes in plains?. The Sangha said its ?discriminatory? and ?unconstitutional? to deprive them of reservation.

It also demanded the extension of the provisions of the Sixth Schedule in the plains of the Barak Valley in accordance with Article 244 (2) of the Constitution.

The memo said nearly 6,000 Reangs have been evicted from the hill areas of southern Hailakandi, by suspected Bangladeshi nationals.

The Sangha demanded the immediate implementation of Assam Forest Land Environment Protection Act, 1980, to evict the intruders.

According to the clauses of the Assam Accord, they demanded the demarcation and installation of boundary pillars in the tribal villages of Hailakandi.

The Sangha has also provided a detailed list of villages from where they have been evicted.

It said since the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act, 1989, has not been implemented in the district, killings, rape of tribal girls, cheating and police atrocities are common phenomena in these villages.

In the memo, the Assam government has been accused of being indifferent to the plight of the villagers.