At least two people were killed and six wounded in police firing after protestors turned violent in Dima Hasao, a district of India’s northeastern state of Assam. The protests broke out after Indian media reports alleged that a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader has proposed a draft for Nagaland peace process which showed that the district would go to the “Greater Nagalim” demanded by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak, Muivah (NSCN-IM).
Three Dima Hasao organizations – Jdike Naiso Hosom, the Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dimasa Mothers’ Association had called a 12-hour strike on Thursday to protest against the RSS leader and demanded an apology.
However, senior RSS leaders have denied moving or submitting any such proposal.
Thousands of people in Dima Hasao gathered in support of the protests and blocked the Maibang Railway Station.
The protestors went on a rampage after the police charged them with batons. When they attempted to attack the security personnel, the police opened fire injuring at least eight protestors. Among those injured in police firing, two protestors who were critically wounded died on their way to the hospital.
The three Dima Hasao organizations have called on Dimasa people to observe January 26 as black day.
To avoid any kind of untoward situation, state authorities have imposed a curfew in the district.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has clarified that there is no such proposal and no area of Assam would be included in Nagaland.
NSCN-IM is a rebel organisation of Northeast India and since its beginning, the NSCN-IM have been demanding the formation of a “Greater Nagalim” comprising Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and some portions of Myanmar to be incorporated within present-day Nagaland itself.
