HAFLONG, August 6: Amid long-standing dissatisfaction with administrative demands, the Indigenous Peoples Forum, the Indigenous Students' Forum, and the Indigenous Women's Forum organized a protest rally in Haflong on Wednesday. They reiterated their call to divide the Dima Hasao district into two separate administrative units.
The protesters marched through the town and gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They chanted slogans like "We want division, not rest," urging the government to take swift action to ensure fair representation for the non-Dimasa indigenous communities in the hill district.
According to the IPF, the demand for the division of Dima Hasao has existed for 15 years, originating after the former North Cachar Hills district was renamed Dima Hasao on March 30, 2010, under the then Congress government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. This renaming, intended to honor the Dimasa community, has made other indigenous groups feel marginalized.
Addressing the media, IPF President L. Kuki expressed his frustration. "We are disappointed with the government's inaction," he said. "Many districts have been created in Assam without any protest or prolonged struggle, yet our legitimate demand, which is the result of years of struggle, is still being ignored. We appeal to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to fulfill his promise by announcing the division of Dima Hasao."
IPF General Secretary L. Lima Kevme recalled a meeting with the Chief Minister on October 28, 2023, at the Haflong Circuit House, where Dr. Sarma assured IPF representatives that their demand would be met before the 2026 assembly elections. "Based on that assurance, we suspended our movement," Kevme said. "However, no concrete steps have been taken since then. This new protest serves as a reminder of that unfulfilled promise."
Kevme warned that if the state government fails to act, the Indigenous Peoples Forum will intensify its movement in the coming days.
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