Nagaon, Sept. 23: The Dima Halam Daogah has decided climb down from its demand for an autonomous state and settle for a territorial council instead. But it will not compromise on its proposed Dimaraji boundary that includes parts of Nagaon, Cachar, Karbi Anglong and Dimapur.
The Dimasa militant outfit is preparing its design for the proposed territorial council that it wishes to present at the final round of talks in New Delhi by the second week of October.
DHD chief Dilip Nunisa today said the outfit feels that the government’s decision to offer a territorial council could be accepted but they would not compromise on the protection and preservation of the socio-cultural and economic rights of the Dimasas living outside the existing Dima Hasao district.
Nunisa declared the outfit’s stand just a day after Union home ministry representative P.C. Haldar told The Telegraph that peace talks with the Dimasa outfit were heading towards a smooth and positive solution within the shortest possible time.
The DHD chief said the proposed council would be named Dimaraji Territorial Council (DTC) and it would comprise three districts — existing Dima Hasao, Garampani district and Borail.
Borail would have parts of present Dima Hasao and the tribal dominated areas of Cachar, including the ancient Kachari kingdom capital Khaspur.
Garampani would include eastern Dima Hasao and neighbouring Nagaon’s Dimasa-dominated Lanka, Hojai, Lumding and Kampur and stretch up to Kachari satra in Dakhinpat under Nagaon sadar police station.
Borlangfar, Dhansiri in Karbi Anglong and Dimapur plains should be included in the existing Dima Hasao district.
“The territorial council will have 40 elected and four nominated members. The number of Assembly constituencies might be increased from the present one to four and there might be a separate Lok Sabha seat comprising the three territorial council districts,” Nunisa said.
“Our armed struggle is to revive the old kingdom of the community and protection and preservation of the rich culture of the tribes living within this part of Assam. They (the government) cannot give us an autonomous state and we agree with that, but they must give us the maximum things that they can give,” said DHD commander-in-chief Pranab Nunisa.
He said Kachari king Krishna Chandra had offered at least 700 bighas for establishing a satra in Dakhinpat area in Nagaon — their struggle will remain unfinished if that area and adjoining Dimasa-dominated parts are not included in the proposed Dimaraji Territorial Council.
The outfit had moved Dispur two weeks back with an appeal to chief minister Tarun Gogoi for a solution based on its charter of demand.
The DHD chairman later claimed that Gogoi agreed to render all possible support.
