Dima Halam Daogah, an erstwhile Indian extremist group operating mostly in Assam and Nagaland, laid down its arms on 2003-01-01.[1] It is an organization purporting to represent to Dimasa in their quest to create a Dimaland or Dimaraji in the two states.
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The Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) is a descendant of the Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF), which ceased operations in 1995. Commander-in-Chief Jewel Gorlosa, refused to surrender and launched the DHD (J) also known as Black Widow in 1996. The Black Widow's declared objective is to create a "Dimasaland" for the Dimasa people in North Cahcar Hills now called Dima Hasao District only. The DHD would include parts of Cachar,Karbi Anglong, and Nagaon districts in Assam, and sections of Dimapur district in Nagaland.[2]
To achieve their objectives, the DHD has used kidnappings, arson attacks, ambushes, bombings, and extortion. The targets of the DHD (J)have included INC politicians, Bengali residents in Assam, Government of India employees, and other tribes in Assam. Their funding mainly comes from wealthy Dimasa since after 1997 the NSCN (their former benefactor) and the DHD clashed over their visions of "Greater Nagaland" and "Dimaraji" respectively.[3] ==
The organization is estimated to have around 400 members.[4] The chairman of the DHD is Pranab Nunisa who came to power on June 24, 2004 after a takeover which ousted founder Jewel Garlossa. The chairman of the DHD is Dilip Nunisa. Other major figures include Kanta Langthasa, Yathong Dimasa, and Rongsling Dimasa.[2]
The DHD has been linked to many other separatist organizations in India, including the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, NSCN and the ULFA.[5]
India banned the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD)-Black Widow militant group in the wake of its involvement in several incidents of violence in Assam on July 2, 2009.[6]
The group surrendered en masse to the CRPF and local police, prior to a deadline, with 193 cadres surrendering on 2009-09-12 and another 171 on the 13th. This may include 138 armed cadre of DHD-J. Arms surrendered included 37 AK series assault rifles, ten M-16 rifles, 11 US carbines, two each of Self-Loading Rifles (SLR) and M-21 rifle, one each of Insas rifle, sten gun, 40-mm gun, Universal Machine Gun (UMG),Rocket Propelling Gun (RPG) and 9-mm pistols. In addition, 7,303 grenades and over 10,000 assorted ammunition were surrendered.[1]