Guwahati, September 15
Responding to September 15 deadline set by the Union Home Ministry, cadres of proscribed tribal militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogah (J) or Black Widow have surrendered their weapons to set the stage for a peace process with the Government of India.
Inspector General of Police (Special Task Force), PP Singh informed The Tribune that total 374 cadres of Black Widow group had surrendered their weapons including some sophisticated weapons till Monday to set the stage for peace negotiation. Out of these 193 cadres surrendered arms on Monday while the rest did so on Sunday. The outfit had earlier given a list of 350 cadres. They have deposited weapons at the headquarter of Fifth Assam Police battalion at Sontila in the hill district.
The cadres are coming over ground under the leadership of a deputy commander in chief senior leader of the outfit Daniel Dimasa while commander in chief Niranjan Hojai who was believed to be in foreign soil is still being expected to join the peace process. Those who have handed over their weapons are now being kept under heavy security at a Red Cross hospital at Jatinga in the hill district. They will be shifted to designated camps once the government gives its nod for the peace process after verifying the weapons surrendered by the outfit.
The chairman of the outfit Jewel Garlosa and another senior leader Partha Warisa had been arrested by Assam Police from a Bangalore hideout on June 3 last serving a severe blow to the outfit which has been running amuck in North Cachar Hill district and adjoining areas in Assam since the year 2004 perpetrating rampant killings and extortions.
Once their chairman fell into the hands of the police, the outfit declared unilateral truce and appealed for peace negotiation with the Government of India. However, the Centre set the pre-condition that all cadres would have to surrender arms for a peace process to happen.
Rampaging Black Widow militants jeopardised works on East West Corridor project of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as well as a gauge conversion project of Indian Railways causing irreversible delay in implementation of these projects besides causing huge cost escalation.
According to Assam police Garlosa masterminded killing of about 200 persons. The police believes that Black Widow is in possession of a huge amount of money as well as the biggest armoury among all the militant groups in Assam.
Meanwhile, Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), the main tribal regional party in hill areas has hailed the process of surrender of weapons by Black Widow cadres. ASDC general secretary Kalijoy Sengyung hoped that the Centre would capitalise on the opportunity to establish permanent peace in the troubled hill district to pave the way for development.
