Unrest in Dima Hasao ahead of council vote
Abduction spree, grede blast, firing in Haflong after Congress no-confidence motion in NCHAC session
A Correspondent
Haflong, Jan 28: Violence erupted in Haflong ahead of Friday's special session of the NC Hills Autonomous Council.
Unidentified miscreants kidpped Bijon Kemprai, brother of the district Congress unit president Mahendra Kemprai from Thaijuari.
In two other incidents, miscreants kidpped Lala mpui (75) and Josepha mpui (25) from New Sangbar village under Umrangsu police station. The miscreants then proceeded to Thingdol village from where they abducted another person - Luapui Thiaite - at around 10 PM on Wednesday. The miscreants also fired several rounds in the air.
All the victims are associated with the Congress.
At Haflong, where the people were busy celebrating 'Busu' - the main festival of the Dimasa community - miscreants fired at the residence of district BJP general secretary Deben Thaosen located at Sambudhan Raji at around 11.45 pm but no one injured.
Two hours later, a grede was lobbed near the office of media house News Dima Hasao, injuring three policemen seriously.
Meanwhile, thousands from Fiangpui and Lodi villages of Haflong took out a silent procession in protest against the kidppings and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
Congress leaders also gathered at the office of the Deputy Commissioner and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.
The Congress has already moved a No Confidence Motion against the present council headed by BJP's Niranjan Hojai. The motion was to be taken up at the special session convened by the Governor tomorrow.
Ten Executive Members (EMs) of the council, who had deserted the Congress a few months back to join the BJP, returned to the Congress fold recently, reducing the BJP-led council formed in October last to minority. The Congress is suspecting the present council executive members to be behind the attacks.
The BJP has condemned the firing at the residence of its district general secretary, the grede attack near the News Dima Hasao office and the kidpping of the four Congress members.
Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police Dr Dhanjay Parshuram Ghawat said the violence was "politically motivated". "We are keeping a close watch and we will be firm against those indulging in such acts," he said.