DIMA HALAM DAOGAH - JEWEL (DHD-J) / BLACK WIDOW (BW)

DIMA HALAM DAOGAH - JEWEL (DHD-J) / BLACK WIDOW (BW)

Former DHD chief Jewel Garlossa formed the Black Widow in July 2004, after leaving the DHD. The DHD-J’s activities are mainly confined to the Dima Hasao district. Activities of the outfit have also been noticed in the Karbi Anglong and Nagaon district. The DHD-J cadres have constantly clashed with their rival DHD-N cadres and several deaths have been reported in such clashes.

Moreover, in its area of influence, the DHD-J is engaged in large-scale extortion, targeting the civilian population, government employees, infrastructure building agencies as well as tea gardens. Vehicles passing through the region, too, have been targeted for extortion. Cases of burning of vehicles for non-compliance have also been reported. It has also charged huge amounts of money from the developmental projects going on in the region like the construction of the broad gauge railway line and the National Highway under the East-West corridor project. The outfit also targets political parties in the NC Hills district for fund collection and more often than not, such demands have been fulfilled. The arrest of Mohit Hojai, the chief executive member of N.C. Hills autonomous council, for allegedly supplying funds to DHD-J is an example of this. It also brings to light a militant-politician nexus. The outfit is also said to have a role in the ethnic clashes going on between the Dimasas and the Zeme Nagas in N.C. Hills.

The NSCN-IM, which severed its ties with the DHD-N, found an able ally in the DHD-J, which allows the former to maintain its influence in the districts of Assam such as NC Hills and Karbi Anglong. The NSCN- IM is suspected to have armed and trained the DHD-J cadres. Many of the DHD-J cadres have also found shelter in the NSCN-IM facilities in Dimapur. In return, the DHD-J shares its extortion booty with the Naga outfit.

On 4 June 2009, DHD-J chairman Jewel Garlossa was arrested in Bangalore with two of his aides. After his arrest, DHD-J announced a unilateral ceasefire for three months from their side. On 2 July 2009, DHD-J was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1965. After these developments, DHD-J showed interest in coming for talks. On 2 October 2009, 382 cadres of DHD-J laid down their arms in front of the authorities at Haflong, headquarter of NC Hills district.

In November 2009, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the alleged diversion of funds of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council to the DHD-J, charge-sheeted the outfit’s 'chief' Jewel Garlossa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai. While Jewel Garlossa is still in judicial custody, Niranjan Hojai went missing after he was charge sheeted. He was arrested from Nepal on 2 July and is now being interrogated by the NIA.