Ethnic groups take out rally, renew demand for bifurcation of Dima Hasao district
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Silchar: Tensions have resurfaced in Assam's hill district of Dima Hasao after hundreds of protesters from non-Dimasa tribal communities took out a massive rally in Haflong on Wednesday, renewing their longstanding demand for the bifurcation of the district.
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epresentatives of ethnic groups including the Hmar, Zeme Naga, Karbi, Beite, Bhaipe, Rangkhal, Kuki, Khasi, and Jaintia marched through the streets of the district headquarters, holding placards and chanting slogans in support of a separate district for non-Dimasa communities. The rally concluded with a gathering outside the office of the deputy commissioner, where community leaders addressed the crowd.
Organised by the Indigenous People's Forum (IPF) along with its sister bodies — the Indigenous Students' Forum (ISF) and the Indigenous Women's Forum (IWF) — the protesters submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, with demands addressed to Assam governor Gulab Chand Kataria and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
At the heart of their demand is the renaming of the district from North Cachar Hills to Dima Hasao in 2010, which they claim is exclusionary and fails to reflect the region's demographic diversity.
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"We have no objection to a separate district for the Dimasas. Let the Dimasa-majority Maibang sub-division be called Dima Hasao. But we want the Haflong sub-division, which comprises other indigenous tribes, to retain the original name — North Cachar Hills," said an IPF spokesperson.
He added that non-Dimasa communities constitute nearly 57% of the district's population and should not be identified under a nomenclature that translates to "land of the Dimasa".
The demand, which has simmered since the 2010 renaming decision, has seen recurring agitations over the past decade, including bandhs, rail blockades, and rallies. "We will continue our agitation until the district is bifurcated," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the Dimasa community — the single largest ethnic group in the region — remains firmly opposed to any move toward division. Dimasa leaders argue that bifurcation would fragment the region and hinder its development.
Observers warn that unless the demand for administrative bifurcation is addressed, the district — once scarred by insurgency and ethnic unrest — may again face renewed tensions.
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