DHD asks Centre to expedite peace process

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) A delegation of North-East insurgent group Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) has met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and called for expediting peace talks.

The delegation led by DHD Chief Dilip Nunisa met Mr Patil yesterday and submitted their revised charter of demands.

The insurgent group from Assam has a suspension of operation pact with the Assam Government since January 1, 2003. The ''ceasefire'' was extended last time in December 2007 for six months.

Its declared objective is to create a separate State of 'Dimaraji' for the Dimasa ('sons of the great river') tribe, comprising Dimasa dominated areas of the North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam and parts of Dimapur district in Nagaland.

It is an offshoot of the erstwhile Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF), which had surrendered en masse in 1995, except for its self-styled Commander-in-Chief Jewel Garlossa, who subsequently launched the DHD.

The outfit mostly operates in Cachar, N C Hills, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts of Assam. It also has a strong presence in the Dimasa-dominated Dhansiri area of Karbi Anglong district. Extortion constitutes a major source of funding for the outfit. E UNI AJ PK RN1907