Karbi Anglong: 52 cadres of DNLA surrender

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Feb. 16 (EMN): Fifty two cadres of Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) laid down their arms and ammunition at Dhansiri designated camp in the presence of Karbi Anglong Superintendent of police (SP) Pushpraj Singh, DSP (Headquarters), Nahid Karishma and Commandant, 20 Bn. CRPF, Sardar Swan Singh in Karbi Anglong district on Wednesday.

Number of weapon surrendered included one Cartos shot gun along with 25 rounds of ammunition, one hand grenade, one .22 rifle with one magazine and 158 rounds of live ammunition of the weapon, one action semi rifle with one magazine, 19 rounds of BDR ammunitions, one carbine rifle along with two magazines, six carbine magazines, three .32 pistols with two magazines, 30 live rounds of .32 ammunitions, one AK series damaged magazine.

It may be mentioned that after the disbandment of Dima Halam Daoga (DHD), an armed outfit of the Dimasa in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, another armed group by the name Dimasa National Liberation Front was formed for demand of Dimaraji – separate homeland for the Dimasas in 2016. The present DNLA is in the peace process with the Assam government in order to meet their various demands.

It was on August 24, 2021 that three of its top leaders — Chairman Etika Diphusa, general secretary, Pritomjit Jigdung and chief-in-commander, Jirikson Halflongbar — came over ground at Dawjingphang community hall, Dhansiri. It was followed by the surrender of 67 cadres on November 24, 2021 at Dhansiri playground.

SP, Pushpraj Singh, said it was a big day for the Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong as the surrendering process of the DNLA had been completed.

“Fifty two DNLA cadres with weapons have come to the mainstream and this is a big day for both Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. Today we can say that the surrendering process of the DNLA has been completed as no one is left out. We have talk with the chairman and c-in-c in this regard.  There will be two camps one at Dhansiri in Karbi Anglong and another at Maibang in NC Hills. At Dhansiri camp there will be 119 inmates and in Maibang designated camp there will be 49 inmates. Total is 168 cadres. The DNLA are already in talks with the State government and hope the process will end soon. But until their settlement is reached necessary support will be provided to them,” Singh said.

Chairman, DNLA, Etika Diphusa in the surrendering programme said, “We are happy to welcome back our 52 operation cadres who have left the camp. But today they have returned back, as the DNLA is in talks with the state government in solving the various problems of the Dimasas.”

He also said the DNLA was formed in 2016 with the sole intention to fight for the problems of Dimasas as the government had turned back on it.