Member of Parliament and Rajya Sabha representative Sushmita Dev of the All India Trinamool Congress has raised concerns over the proposed merger of 19 villages from Cachar district with Dima Hasao district. In a letter addressed to Mridul Yadav, IPS, District Commissioner of Cachar, Sushmita Dev has demanded a detailed report and complete transparency on the issue, questioning the steps taken by the district administration.
The proposal, reported in multiple news outlets, suggests that the 19 villages in the Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district could soon be transferred to Dima Hasao and brought under the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. This step is reportedly linked to a peace agreement signed earlier this year by two Dimasa insurgent groups – the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) and the Dimasa People’s Supreme Council (DPSC) – with the Centre and the Assam government. The Memorandum of Settlement, signed on April 27, 2023, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, aimed to end armed insurgency in Dima Hasao district.
According to official sources, the Secretary of Hill Area Development has sent a proposal for consideration by the Assam government. The 19 villages, all part of the Rajabazar Development Block, include Dipu, Kumacharra, Kalinagar, Jembru, Putacherra, Harinagar, Dharamnagar, Thaipunagar, Railong, Masap, Doloicharra, Sonpur, Karabeel, Kanakpur, Joypur, Watiling, Langlacharra, Laduma, and Lodi. These villages together account for 11,536 registered voters. 
The Circle Officer of Lakhipur has reportedly been asked by the District Commissioner’s office to prepare a comprehensive report detailing the present location, geographical layout, population, and community composition of these villages. Sushmita Dev noted that, while the Assam Chief Minister has stated that a consensus will be reached before any merger, there appears to be little transparency about the process or public consultation.
“This is not merely a matter affecting the Lakhipur Assembly seat,” Sushmita Dev said in her letter. “There are several political and non-political organizations in Cachar working to raise awareness about this critical decision. The merger could have far-reaching negative effects on the economy, geography, rights, income, resources, and identity of people in the entire Barak Valley region. This cannot be taken lightly.”
The MP has requested that the district administration provide a full report on the process as soon as possible.
