‘KA turmoil is not Rengma-Karbi clash’

Council of Naga Rengma Hills (CNRH)/ Naga Rengma Hills Protection Force (NRHPF) Friday said that media should refrain from terming the “Karbi created turmoil” as a clash between two communities or Karbi-Rengma clash.
In a press release, CNRH/NRHPF chairman Keyhang Rengma while expressing dismay with “some local and regional dailies” for terming the “Karbi perpetrated atrocities” on Rengmas as a clash, alleged that the genesis of the turmoil began when armed Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) forces along with Karbi public killed innocent women and children and burned down Rengma houses and granaries.
According to Keyhang, the atrocities were a “pre-planned diabolic scheme” to wage a civil war in order to chase out and grab Rengma land. He said this “mischievous” scheme to pursue the dream of forming a Karbi state through militant means at the expense of other neighbouring communities prompted them to engage in a “bloody conflict” since the 1990s.
CNRH/NRHPF chairman said that NRHPF was compelled to defend their villages from the “marauding KPLT forces” resulting in the death of three of their cadres. He said that despite unwarranted provocations and “terror” meted out by the KPLT cadres, Rengmas restrained themselves from reacting.
CNRH/NRHPF also alleged that the Assam government under Tarun Gogoi was “aiding and abetting the terrorist activities” of KPLT and its leader Rajen Enti who was arrested recently by police.
Keyhang said Rajen Engti’s involvement in the abduction and disappearance of Late Nzankheng Rengma on October 21 last year was revealed by Deven Tisso and John Rangpar who were arrested by the Rengmas. He said this showed that Assam government was “hand in glove” relation with KPLT.
CNRH/NRHPF also alleged that Karbis who were the perpetrators in the conflict and those not affected or displaced by the unfortunate incident were being given shelter at the relief camps “just to get free relief materials” from the KAAC and Assam government.
CNRH/NRHPF warned the Karbis to restrain themselves from their “mischievous dream” of chasing out the land owners of Rengma Hills for the formation of a Karbi state and asserted that the indigenous people would not “cow down” to the aggression and threats from any quarters.