Nagaon, April 29: Bhim Bahadur Chetry and his family have been feeling safe since returning three years ago to Langting in Assam’s Dima Hasao district that is poised to witness a high-profile three-corner contest in the May 20 council polls.

The 47-year-old Nepali milkman along with his wife and two daughters had left the small hill town, around 40km from Lumding in Nagaon district and 140km from Dima Hasao district headquarters Haflong, in 2005 following violence perpetrated by the Joel Garlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah.

The area witnessed peace only after the faction laid down arms in 2009.

The family spent the intervening period in a remote village on the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border before returning and restarting their milk supply business at Langting.

“Those days in Langting were different from today. Fear had made most government employees leave town and there was no doctor for the ailing, nor any teacher for the school. Prices of all essential commodities were abnormally high, as traders from outside refused to come here fearing rebel attacks. Trains were regularly attacked and people lived in fear,” Chetry said.

Three high-profile candidates are locking horns for the May 20 council election from Langting. They include Dima Hasao Autonomous Council chief executive member Debojeet Thaosen, former council member and dissident Congress leader Bhadramoni Langthasa (Independent) and Hills State Democratic Party central committee leader Rothindra Thaosen.

“We want good governance and more development in the region. After a decade of trouble and unrest, people here are finally feeling secure. We will vote to power anyone who understands the people’s needs,” said Jagannath Langthasa, a resident of Langting bazar.

Chetry’s youngest daughter, Nila, is a student in Padma Devi Junior College in the town. The college, established two years back, is the only higher education institution in that part of the hill district.

“In 2005, Langting was not what it is today. We now have 36 primary schools, two high schools and one junior college here. The council has also submitted a proposal for a degree college. We have a doctor in the Langting community health centre since past two years and the council plans a model hospital in place of the centre that will engage more doctors and paramedical staff,” Nila said.

The town, a Dimasa-dominated area once known as the base of both factions of the Dimasa militant group, is now connected by rail service. During its worst days between 2006 and 2008, the area had witnessed four major kidnappings of state and central government officials and four attacks on employees engaged in gauge conversion and work on the East-West corridor.

According to a source in the Dima Hasao administration, deployment of security forces, constant anti-insurgency operations and dissolution of both DHD factions had led to a better law and order situation at Langting.

“Bad communication was a major reason behind emergence of militancy in the area. Development of roads in and around the town helped security forces strengthen their network,” the source said.