Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) 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 is currently observing 'ceasefire' with the government.
Objective
It's 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.
Leadership
The outfit is led by its President Pranab Nunisa and Chairman Dilip Nunisa. Kanta Langthasa functions as the home secretary of the outfit whereas, Yathong Dimasa is the additional commander-in-chief. Rongsling Dimasa is its organising secretary.
On June 24, 2004, Pranab Nunisa, the former commander-in-chief of the outfit and the head of the outfit’s armed wing, the Dima National Army, took over the command of DHD by ousting its President Jewel Garlossa on charges of anti-DHD activity. Nunisa, in a press statement, said that Garlossa has already formed a separate outfit on March 31, 2003, named ‘The Black Widows’, which also has a private army.
Area of operation
The outfit’s 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.
Funding
Extortion constitutes a major source of funding for the outfit. Even after entering into the ceasefire agreement, the outfit continues its extortion activities in the Cachar district. It especially targets the tea gardens located in the area. The villages most affected by the outfit’s activities in Cachar district are Thaligram, Tikolpar, Khaspur, Bagherkona, Madhuranagar, Amranagar, Chandighat, Pangram, Arunabond and Salganga.
Similarly, DHD’s extortion activities have been reported from Diphu, Hamren and Bokajan sub-divisions of Karbi Anglong district and the Hojai sub-division of adjoining Nagaon district.
Linkages
The DHD has reportedly forged links with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s external intelligence agency. The nexus came to light after security forces commenced investigating the diversion of public funds into the coffers of the militant outfit in April 2000.
The DHD is also reported to have linkages with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak- Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the national Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Peace Negotiations
A ceasefire agreement was signed between the DHD leadership and the Union Government on January 1, 2003 and the agreement has been periodically extended. On January 1, 2004, the ceasefire was extended for a period of one year, till December 31, 2004. On September 23, 2004 a six-member DHD delegation led by ‘chairman’ Dilip Nunisa met Union home minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum demanding a separate homeland for the Dimasa tribals. However, the tardy progress of the negotiation process has disappointed the DHD leadership, whose Chief Dilip Nunisa on December 4 termed the delay as "intentional procrastination".