Kohima: The Nagaland Garo Tribal Council (NGTC) wants an apology. Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio recently referred to the Garo people as migrants during talks about indigenous inhabitants. The comment hit local news on October 31. It left the community reeling. NGTC President Diganto Sangma and General Secretary Cliff Sangma blasted the statement for ignoring deep roots in the region.
The council maintains the Garos are an aboriginal people of Dimapur District. They point to Darogapathar Village as proof. Established in 1811, it stands as the oldest recognized Garo settlement in the state. Today, five Garo villages exist within Dimapur: Darogapathar (1811), Eralibill (1910), Dubagaon (1910), Ekranipathar (1942), and Samaguri (1951). Garo families also live in Dimapur town, Padumpukhuri, Chümoukedima District, and Kohima District.
Constitutional status remains a central pillar of their argument. The Garos hold recognition as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970. The council warned that officials must stop questioning their identity with careless labels. They expect state leaders to show fairness and respect the historical rights of all tribal groups. The council demand for justice is clear. "Our history deserves to be heard, not dismissed or neglected," the NGTC stated.
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