No DHD threat to NC Hills polls: Army

Haflong, Oct 31 (UNI) Army sources here today said there was no threat from the proscribed Dima Halom Daogah's (DHD) (Jewel faction) to the peaceful conduct of North Cachar (NC) Hills District Autonomous Council's (NCHDAC) elections.

''Their strength has been badly hit with the arrest of Action Dimasa and Daku Dimasa as well as seizure of large quantity of arms and ammunition and money of the outfit over the past few months,'' they said.

Reports in the local media had stated that the DHD(J) would disrupt the election process, slated for November 26 and December one.

Incidentally, the elections, originally scheduled for June 12, had to be postponed after outgoing Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the NCHDAC Purnendu Langthasa and another EM were shot dead by DHD militants on June 4 during campaigning.

''There is no reason to panic over those media reports, since the outfit has received tremendous jolts in the recent past and cannot face the security forces in the district,'' the sources added.

They said the DHD(J) had come under tremendous pressure in the hills district and had been forced to flee and get arrested while trying to do so.

''These militants have no aim or cause, they were looting the people for personal benefits. They should be called thieves rather than insurgents,'' the sources added.

The sources further maintained that the security forces in NC Hills district have been working in a concerted manner and this had resulted in failure of the militants in doing much damage in the area.

The militants have, however, reported to continue with the extortion activities in the district, although the recent setbacks for the DHD(J) had decreased the terror influence of the outfit, the sources claimed.

UNI