Assam: Indefinite ‘Bandh’ in Dima Hasao from February 11

Guwahati, February, 9, 2020:

An indefinite bandh has been called in the Dima Hasao district from February 11, 2020 onwards. The Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) has called for the bandh demanding immediate implementation of the district’s bifurcation with separate autonomous councils.

The bandh will be in effect from 5 am of February 11 until the IPF’s demands are met. In a statement released on Saturday, the IPF stated, “We, IPF Community do not have any problem if the Government wants to grant the Dimasas a Territorial Council, an Autonomous State, or even a full-fledged State provided we, the non-Dimasa and our Areas are not included within whatever political status granted to them."

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The statement further added, "We want to live as equal citizens of India in a separate Autonomous District with a Separate Autonomous Council within the state of Assam as per the provisions 1.(3)(c) & 2.(1) of Aricles 244(2) & 275(1) of the 6th Schedule to the Constitution of India.”

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The statement further read that IPF believes in the concept of ‘Live and let others live.’ “As such, it is our earnest prayer to the Govt. of Assam to kindly consider our plight and implement the above mentioned particular paragraphs of the Report of the Task Force without further delay in the greater interest of the prevalence of long lasting peace between the Dimasa and non-Dimasa groups of people of the district by allowing them live under separate administrative and political setups without further interference in the administrative and political affairs of one another.”

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