HT Correspondent
DONGKAMUKAM, Oct, 17: Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong observed ‘National Mourning Day’, commemorating the massacre by militants at Charchim-Presek in West Karbi Anglong on Tuesday.
The place of the incident is 51 km away from here under Jirikindeng police station.
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On October 17, 2005, alleged Dimasa radical group ambushed the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Transport bus coming down from Jirikending at Charchim-Prisek in West Karbi Anglong and carried out the massacre. 41 men, women and children lost their lives in the incident.
They burned down the KAAC bus and after the attack on the bus the passengers, the militants entered Charchim village, which is very near the incident site, and torched down the houses. They killed 15 more people in the village.
Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang accompanied by Karbi traditional Karbi king Longsing Ronghang lighted candles and offered prayers at the commemorative stone.
Besides Tuliram, the MP, Horensing Bey, MLAs, EMs, MACs and family members of the victim lighted candles and offered prayers.
On the occasion, the CEM of KAAC appealed to all communities of the twin hill districts to maintain peace and tranquility.
“The observation of National Mourning Day is not intended to hurt the sentiment of a particular community, but we want brotherhood among us. Keeping this in mind the organiser has invited all communities to the commemoration,” said Ronghang.
CEM said by killing, nobody gains; instead the tribes will be set back by fifty to sixty years. The CEM on the occasion announced that ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh were given to the victim families along with tin roofing sheets. The MP appealed not to play politics of hatred in the hills, but to maintain peace and harmony.
Apart from elected members the leaders of various socio-cultural, student and women organisations and the general public participated in the observation.
