Dimapur, July 21 (EMN): The United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) today took strong exceptions to the statement of the Dimasa National Council (DNC) and gave a statement about the history of the ‘indigenous people around the Brahmaputra valley’ once for all to ‘clear all doubts’.
A press statement signed by the UNTABA Chairman, Hukavi Yeputhomi and General Secretary Imsumongba Pongen, while asserting that the “ignorant voices of the so called DNC are nothing but a voice in the wilderness”, cited some historical accounts by writers of yesteryears.
It cited the ‘Hunter’s Statistical Account of Assam published in 1870’
“According to Hunter’s Statistical Account of Assam published in 1870 - page 177, the total numbers of population consists in this manner: ‘No regular census has ever been taken of the Naga Hills, and it is impossible, therefore, to give a correct estimate of the population,” the release stated.
“The Deputy Commissioner in 1870 roughly put the population at 82,500 and estimated the relative numbers of the different races as follows: i) Assamese – 705; ii) Aitanyas – 355; Cacharis – 3505; iii) Mikirs – 8820; and iv) Kukis – 2524. And, the Nagas who form, of course the great mass of the population 66,535 – totalling to 82,444.
The figures of the first three named races were obtained by referring to the number of houses shown in the Revenue Returns, and calculating on the average of five inmates to each house’. Such are the records of history.”
The release stated that “during this period of history, from ‘Seebsaugor’ town, the present Sibsagar, which was established purely on the lands of illiterate Naga people of those days, leased out to new prospectors and the newly established Assam Company for Tea Industries by the British Imperial Government of India, part of Jorhat to Golaghat, to Kaliani river, then to Kopili river bordering the present Jaintia Hills to Barak river valley were all under Naga Hills District, the boundary of which were notified in 1867 and then rectified in 1875.
“These are roughly the land and boundaries committed to be re-transferred to Naga people for which the Naga joined the union of India during its independence from British Raj,” the release stated.
In this regard, the UNTABA asserted that the ‘occasional outburst of the few MPs and MLAs of Assam does not merit their attention’ and stated that unless these commitments are fulfilled, the Naga people shall pursue more vigorously for its inherent right.
