Guwahati, April 14: The US-based Kuki International Forum has charged the Assam government with being “biased” in its handling of the ongoing Hmar-Dimasa conflict in Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts.

In an open letter to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the forum claimed the state administration had been partial towards the Dimasas since the clashes in south Assam began. “The biased nature of the state government has been in evidence since the beginning of the conflict,” it said.

The Kuki community, which inhabits several areas of the two districts, had been perceived to be neutral on the issue till this statement was issued.

The US-based organisation said the Hmars were “unao (perennial brothers)” of the Kukis because both communities originated in Sinlung/Khul. “They share a common culture, traditions and have lived together as unao till date.”

Hundreds of Hmars from Cachar and the North Cachar Hills fled to Manipur, where the majority of the Kukis are based, to escape reprisal by the Dimasas.

The Kuki forum accused the Assam government of undermining the plight of the “helpless Hmar refugees” by adopting an “apartheid strategy to uplift the Dimasas”. Warning that the Kukis would not tolerate the “victimisation” of their Hmar brothers, it appealed to Dispur to compensate the victims and end the conflict at the earliest.

The organisation also claimed that the Kukis were “victimised in the retaliatory action” and named seven members of the community who were “kidnapped” from a Lumding-Haflong train on April 4. The missing persons are Hangkai Doungel (35), Lunkhongam L. Khongsai (35), Hoikholhai L. Khongsai (32), Nengpilhing Singsonage (45), Paokam Khongsai (50), Neingahkim Khongsai (30) and Tinkholal Vaiphei (40).

A Kuki tribesman was the first victim of attacks by the Dimasas in North Cachar Hills following the massacre of 24 members of the community in neighbouring Cachar. The Dimasa assailants had reportedly mistaken the victim for a Hmar villager.

The Kuki forum accused Dimasa militants of hurting the religious sentiments of Christians by torturing people inside churches. Its open letter to the chief minister was e-mailed to The Telegraph.

Neh Thang Kuki, a member of the organisation’s “department of information and publicity”, said the government would be held responsible for any untoward incident in the strife-torn districts if it continued to neglect the Hmars.

Urging all communities to respect one another, it said peace-loving citizens should condemn violence in one voice and protest the “slow interference” of the government in the conflict.