Dec. 5: Police today gained access to the militant Dima Halam Daoga (DHD)?s government-authorised camp in Karbi Anglong without any resistance, but there was trouble elsewhere with arsonists targeting houses belonging to both Karbis and Dimasas.

Deputy commissioner G.D. Tripathi said six houses ? three each of Dimasa and Karbi families ? were set ablaze at Tumpreng Tissogaon village under Baithalangsu police station around 2.30 am. He said it was the first instance of a village with a composite population coming under attack. ?But we have yet to ascertain the identity of the group that set fire to the houses.?

Less than three hours later, 36 houses belonging to Karbis were gutted at Engleng village in Borlangphar. The arsonists struck despite heightened security, including deployment of army units in some areas of the district.

The deputy commissioner said the fresh burst of arson and rioting had forced even those who had returned to their villages recently to come back to the relative safety of the relief camps. ?Just over 15,000 people were staying in the relief camps on November 18, but the count was 17,000-plus yesterday.?

The Karbi and Dimasa communities have been locked in a conflict for over two months. Nearly 100 people have been killed since the first round of clashes began on September 26. The police suspect the DHD and the United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), which claims to represent the Karbis, of fuelling the discord.

Additional superintendent of police (headquarters) Nityananda Goswami led a team to the DHD?s designated camp in Dhansiri for a survey, while another contingent did a headcount of UPDS activists at the Karbi outfit?s camp.

Tripathi said the idea was to keep tabs on the movements of the militant cadre and prevent them from stoking the embers of the ethnic conflict. ?This will be a daily affair. The rebels have been asked to be confined to their camps.?

A police and paramilitary team led by new district police chief Anurag Tankha was yesterday prevented from entering the DHD camp. The Dimasa militants opened fire at the raid party, leading to a skirmish. A BSF jawan was injured in the incident.

?We went again today after a discussion with DHD commander-in-chief Pranab Nunisa,? Goswami said.

The DHD camp has 117 inmates and the one set up by the UPDS has 47. Goswami said police did not find a single DHD member in Dhansiri.