Over 400 Black Widow militants surrender in Assam

Guwahati, Oct 3 (ANI): Over four hundred militants of the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) formally laid down their arms before Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at a function at Halflong in North Cachar Hill District on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Friday.

The DHD (J) a banned outfit under Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act started surrendering weapons on September 15.

The surrendered militants included the commander of the outfit Niranjan Hojai, the deputy commander Debolal Garlosa, five self-styled lieutenants, 15-second lieutenants, 30 sergeant majors, 15 sergeants, 29 corporals and 67 lance corporals.

Expressing satisfaction over the steps taken by the DHD (J) to bring peace to the region, Gogoi said Congress - led Governments, both at the Centre and the State, are very much concerned about solving the long pending problems of the North Cachar Hill District.

Gogoi also promised to take immediate measures to rehabilitate surrendered cadres of the outfit.

He also declared a package of Rs. 50 crore for immediate developmental activities in the hill district.

The DHD (J), which is also known as the Black Widow, also deposited 148 weapons including 76 AK series rifles besides 1130 assorted ammunitions, 10 kilograms of high explosives, 244 assorted magazines and 40 radio sets.

According to official sources, most of the surrendered cadres of the Black Widow are aged between 20 to 30.

Speaking on the occasion, the Commander of DHD(J) Niranjan Hojai urged the Gogoi to fulfill the demands of the outfit within a time-frame and expressed their willingness to work for peace and development in the hill district.

Earlier, in August, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had asked the banned DHD (J) to surrender weapons before September 15.

The DHD (J) is responsible for creating terror in the North Cachar Hill District of Assam for last six years, during which over 300 people have been killed.

According to the new rules for facilitating peace talks with the militant organization, an outfit has to first abjure violence by depositing weapons and stay away from extortion by moving to designated camps. Only its top leadership will be allowed to sit for talks.

The government has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy in North Cachar Hills with strong deployment of security forces. Army's brigade headquarters at Haflong has coordinating all the efforts. (ANI)