Relics from the Dimasa-Kachari kingdom, whose capital was Dimapur

Dimabong Halali (N.C. Hills), Feb. 7: As the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) bargains hard with Delhi for the integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, the militant Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) has reminded the outfit that the historical town of Dimapur must be ?rightfully returned? to the Dimasas.

?(NSCN general secretary) Th. Muivah has said that the Nagas respect the rights of others. By that token, the Nagas must rightfully return Dimapur to the Dimasas,? DHD chairman Dilip Nunisa said during an exclusive interview to The Telegraph.

On the NSCN (I-M)?s demand for a ?Nagalim? that includes all Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast, Nunisa said: ?Nobody will be permitted to play politics over the boundary of the ancient Dimasa kingdom.?

In the days when it was a fledgling outfit, the DHD received moral and material support from the NSCN (I-M). They parted ways after a clash of interests.

Dimapur, which is close to the Assam-Nagaland border and the commercial hub of Nagaland, was the capital of the erstwhile Dimasa kingdom. In 1526 AD, the Ahoms overran Dimapur and the Dimasas fled to the area that is now called North Cachar Hills and made Maibong their new capital.

Lamenting the neglect of historical monuments dating back to the Dimasa kingdom, he said a central financial package exclusively for the restoration of the archaeological ruins was part of the charter of demands placed before Delhi.

Like the NSCN (I-M), the DHD is involved in a dialogue with Delhi. The outfit professes to be campaigning for a separate state of ?Dimaraji?, including all the areas that were part of the erstwhile Dimasa kingdom. The DHD?s vision of Dimaraji also extends to the twin districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills and parts of Nagaon and Cachar.

The outfit is backed by the All Dimasa Students? Union, which believes that the concept of an autonomous area ? as propagated by the Karbi Anglong-based Autonomous State Demand Committee ? does not reflect historical truths.

?We support the demand for Dimaraji as it alone can fulfil the aspirations of the people,? Sanmoni Kemprai, the chief adviser of the student organisation, said.

Nunisa echoed him. ?Our armed struggle for Dimaraji for two decades would be meaningless if it is limited to the twin hill districts.?

The militant group came into being in 1993 with the slogan of a separate Dimasa homeland. Two more groups ? the Dimaraji Demand Committee and the All Dimasa Students? Union ? joined the bandwagon later. The DHD entered into a ceasefire agreement with Delhi in 2003. The first round of talks was held last month.

A seven-member DHD delegation, led by Nunisa, participated in the tripartite talks. The ceasefire monitoring cell of the Union home ministry was represented by Anil Chaudhury, while Assam deputed inspector-general of police (special branch) Khagen Sarma for the dialogue.

As many as 2,200 members of the DHD, including 800 trained guerrillas, are at present staying in five designated camps spread across Karbi Anglong, North Cachar Hills and Cachar.

The movement for an autonomous state comprising the twin hill districts of Assam was initiated by the ASDC in 1987. All political parties have since been raising the issue before every election.