The authorities in Assam’s strife-torn North Cachar Hills district have drawn up a strategy to relocate over 10,000 tribals from about 50 villages and house them in a number of safe clusters for a few months. Deputy Commissioner S Jagannathan confirmed that during this period security forces would carry out flushing out operations against the militants in the region.

“We are shifting about 10,000 people of both communities, Dimasa and Zeme Naga, and sites have been already identified for setting up the clusters. Villages that are in remote areas and inaccessible by roads and are considered sensitive have been identified for the purpose,” Jagannathan said over the telephone from Haflong, the district headquarters.

In an indication of the deteriorating relations between the Dimasa and Zeme Naga tribes, the authorities are arranging for separate clusters for people belonging to the two communities.

The authorities have in the first phase decided upon setting up six clusters for the Zeme tribals, while an equal number are being established for the Dimasas. “The gaonburras (village headmen) have already informed the concerned villagers about the relocation plan, and the people have agreed,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

Over 50 persons have been killed in a series of attacks on villages of both Dimasa and Zeme communities in the hill district in the past three months, while nearly 4,000 people — who were rendered homeless as armed miscreants set entire villages on fire — are currently taking shelter in makeshift relief camps.

The tentative strategy drawn up by the authorities also includes deployment of one platoon of Assam Police Battalion jawans for every cluster of relocated villagers. “We are also making arrangements for drinking water, sanitation and primary healthcare, while work will be made available for them under NREGS, Jagannathan said.

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