[6] UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE MOVEMENT IN ASSAM FROM 1921 TO 1947:Resistance in Jayantia Territory and Lushai Hills -
The Jaintias broke out in open rebellion when a House tax was imposed on them in 1860. Though the revolt was stamped out before it could make any head it reflected their agony for freedom. In December 1861 while the people assembled at Lalong for their annual dance festival police came from Jowai and looted the ornaments of the ladies and seized their ceremonial arms. “ This offensive conduct of the police led to a fresh outbreak in January 1862[1]” Kitook Nongba took the lead in organizing a thorough plan of war against the British[2]. The police station at Jawai was burnt to the ground; the garrison of sepoys was besieged and all show of British authority was swept away. In order to quell the revolt, two regiments of Sikhs and an elephant battery were moved into the hills, but the Syntengs though armed only with bows and arrows fought bravely for their independence[3]. But U. Bordoloi became a traitor and gave prior information to the British and with reinforcement from Sylhet they suppressed the uprising. King Nongba was arrested from his hideout and condemned to death without proper trial and publicly hanged on 30th December 1862[4].
Resistance in Lushai hills-
The British made carried out their 1st raid to the plains of Kachar against the Lusai in 1849 but they were easily subdued. In 1889, however, they made a raid on the Chittagong border and carried away a number of captives from the British territories. The British government demanded the release of the captives which the Lushais refused; at this, British troops entered their territory, rescued the captives and arrested the chiefs responsible for the outrage. To check further raids from the Lushais, military outposts were set up at Aizwal and Changsil in the north and at Lungleh in the south. This made them impatience and Lushais near Aizwal rose in a rebellion to retain their existence and attacked the outpost of Aizwal and Changsiland murdered captain brown, the political officer[5]. When the British came to know about this incident, British reinforcement was sent from Silchar under the commandership of Swinton and Titlar to Lushai Hills. On the way, the Lushis constantly attacked the British force and killed Mr. Swinton. After his murdered Mr. Titlar took the leadership and reached Changsil on 28th September 1849(?). Mr. Titlar rescued the soldiers who were under the captivity of the Lushais. On 5th October 1889, Mr. Macab with 200 British soldiers reached Sangsil to help Mr. Swinton, then a real battle was fought between the Lushais and the British force[6]. The rebellion was suppressed within less than two months. Early in 1892, there was another insurrection of the eastern Lushais, but it was quelled without much trouble[7].
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