North Cachar Hills district of Assam is one of the two hill districts which divides Brahmaputra Valley from Barak Valley. Formed in 1970 it comes under the 6th schedule of the Constitution under which it has an Autonomous District Council that governs it except for law and order. It has a population of about two lakh covering an area of 4,888 sq.kms.
What is Black Widow?
It is an armed group from Dimasa community which is also known as the Jewel Garlosa faction of Dima Halom Daogah of DHD(J). Its roots can be traced to the Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF), a group formed in 1993 to safeguard the interest of Dimasa janjati—the largest janjati in NC Hills. While DNSA surrendered, two of its leaders, Dilip Nunisa and Mihar Garlosa alias Jewel Garlosa alias Mihir Burman stayed out to float Dima Halom Daogah (DHD) in 1995. On January1, 2004, when DHD under Chairmanship of Dilip Nunisha signed a ceasefire agreement with Cental Government, Garlosa was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and expelled for forming the “Black Window”, another faction of the outfit known as DHD(J). During Hmar-Dimasa clash in early 2003. Hmar militants threw beef inside a Kali Mandir and killed 28 Dimasa men, thereby, making the ladies widows, the faces of those widows were blackened. The term “Black Widow” is derived from this incident.
Black Widow or DHD(J) has the same demand as the original DHD. It still wants to negotiate with the government for creation of “Dimaraji”—a separate state for the Dimasa community—out of the existing NC Hills and parts of adjoining Cachar and Nagaon districts apart form portions of Nagaland where the Dimasas once had their capital at Dimapur which is now known as Rajbari, protected by the Central Government. Dimapur is connected with Mahabharat which is the place of Hidimba whom Bhim married.
How does the outfit operate?
While separate “Dimaraji” is the only demand, the outfit has been more in news for numerous incidents of abductions, killings, extortions and attacks on trains. It has, reportedly 170 members with weapons of AK series. Two ongoing central projects—the Rs 800 crore 180 km stretch of the East-West corridor form Lumding to Silchar connecting Silchar in Barak Valley to Porbandar in Gujarat and the Rs 1670 crore Lumding—Silchar broad gauge railway project and half a dozen small industries and cement plants have become their top targets. Both the central projects and small industries and cement factories have got closed. The outfit has extorted crores of rupees from District Council, high officials, politicians and traders’ community, etc. There have been 16 sabotage attempts in the area between May 2 and May 28. Over 200 people including labourers, civilians, railway and security personnel have died due to militant’s attacks since 2006. The NF railway started running special trains manned by security personnel in the troubled region from May 29. The schools were also closed in May last as a security measure.
Government funds siphoned off to fill militants’ coffers
North Cachar Hill District Council (NCHDC) is an example of developmental funds flowing into the hands of militants. There have been reports of a militants politicians nexus. On April 2, a DHD(J) rebel was caught in Shillong with Rs 1 crore in cash allegedly given to him by the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Autonomous Council, Mohit Hojai, who belongs to Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), regional party. Mohit Hojai accompanied with RS Khan, Joint Director of Social Welfare Department have been arrested alongwith 4 lakh rupees from his house. The former Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member (CEM), Purnendu Longthosa of the Congress Party was killed when he had reportedly gone to hand over 3 crore to DHD(J) in June 2007 as the amount did not match their demand. The former CEM Depulal has also been arrested on similar charges. The National Investigating Agency (NIA) is investigating the charges. About 50 crore of rupees have gone into wrong hands during the last four years.
Militancy has affected development projects
The cost of railway project sanctioned in 1996-97 with 2007 as target date for completion has risen from Rs 1,670 crore to a revised estimate of Rs 4,000 crore. The revised target for completion is March 2012. But the project has come to a grinding halt with all the contractors and their labourers fleeing to safety after the renewed militants attacks that began on April 10. Only 40 per cent work has been done. The East West Corridor (Mahasarak) project has not even achieved 5 per cent progress.
Political instability
After the assassination of CEM, Purnendu Logthasa of the Congress Party, Congress is shaken in NC Hills. By not taking timely action against militants and erring politicians, Congress is deliberately allowing the tragedy to reach saturation point with an eye on smooth comeback in the hill district.
Ethnic composition
The Dimasas—the largest community consists of 99.99 per cent Hindus while the second community, i.e., Jemes consists of 65 per cent Hindus. The Jemes and Dimasas are dead against conversion and formation of Greater Nagaland. Both are closest to each other. Both are common targets of hostile forces.
At last Central Government acts
At last CEM Mohit Hojai and former CEM Depulal Hojai have been arrested alongwith RS Khan Jt. Director of Social Welfare Department. DHD(J) Chief Jewel Garlosa along with two of his aids—Partho Warisa and Samir Ahmed were arrested at Bengaluru on June 4, 2009 and brought over to Guwahati. The District Council has been suspended.
The recent tragedy
The present violence was ignited by the brutal attack on the innocents villagers in Tongje Jeme village killing two persons on March 19 last and then the killing of another two persons at Boureneu on 23.3.2009 by DHD(J) militants without any provocation. In total 16 Dimasa villages and 20 Jeme villages have been badly affected. A large number of people have got killed and property worth crore of ruppes got destroyed. There are over 5,500 victims in 13 relief camps which is established by villagers only. The innocent victims are below poverty line and the relief camps are prone to contagious diseases. There is almost nil supply of medicines and food commodities. The victims in relief camps fear fresh attack by terrorist.
(The writer can be contacted at [email protected])
