𝗛𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀! 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁

The Indigenous Peoples Forum (IPF) on November 11 staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Haflong, reiterating its long-standing demand to bifurcate the existing Dima Hasao district into two separate districts.

The organisation has been voicing this demand for the past 15 years, ever since the then Congress government on March 30, 2010, renamed the erstwhile North Cachar Hills district as Dima Hasao. The Forum alleges that the renaming was done on communal lines, marginalising several other indigenous groups inhabiting the hill district.

The Indigenous Peoples Forum has since been demanding the creation of two separate districts and two autonomous councils to ensure equitable representation and development of all ethnic communities in the region. Earlier phases of the agitation had led to unrest in the hill district, the group acknowledged, but it accused the government of failing to take any concrete action to address their legitimate demand.

Speaking to reporters, IPF General Secretary L. Lima Kevme said the Forum represents 12 to 13 indigenous communities of Dima Hasao and has been seeking bifurcation to secure their political and cultural rights. He recalled that during a meeting held on October 28, 2023, in Haflong with Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the CM had assured that their demand would be fulfilled before the 2026 Assembly elections.