GUWAHATI, Jan 9 � The Naga Rengma Hill Protection Force, which claimed responsibility for killing nine persons, whose bodies were recovered near Dimapur, was floated by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) for protection of the Rengma Naga people living in Karbi Anglong.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that simmering tension was brewing in the hill district for some time as different organizations representing Karbi and Rengma Naga groups were giving statements against each other and some organizations even started demanding autonomy for the Rengma Naga people living in the hill district.
Sources said that the Naga Rengma Hill Protection Force was raised by the NSCN (I-M) for protection of the people of the community and the members of the outfit are using weapons of the NSCN. Sources said that the NSCN members also operated along with the members of the Force.
The fresh trouble started with the Karbi militant group KPLT demanding tax from the non-Karbi people, including the Rengma Nagas. The refusal to pay the taxes resulted in the killing of five Rengma Naga persons and in retaliation, the Naga Rengma Hill Protection Force killed nine persons and buried the bodies near Dimapur. Security sources claimed that the newly formed outfit could not have carried out such a gruesome incident without the help of the NSCN (I-M).
