Bangalore: The Assam police have busted the hideout here of a militant group Dima Halam Daogah, popularly known as DHD (J), and arrested its ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Jewel Garlossa (36) and his two accomplices.
Based on specific information, a special police team from Guwahati led by Deputy Inspector General G.P. Singh raided an apartment at Arakere cross off Bannerghatta road here on Wednesday night and arrested Jewel, Partha Warisa and Samir Ahmed. Cases have been registered against the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and other Acts. Passbooks, ATM cards, mobile phones, cash and other documents have been seized from them.
Even though the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bangalore City Police assisted the Assam police in conducting the raid, the city police declined to give information about the operation.
Statehood demand
DHD (J) is a militant group in Assam. It has been fighting for a separate State for the Dimasas, a tribal community, in Assam and have launched violent attacks on several other tribes, a senior police officer told The Hindu over phone from Guwahati.
Jewel Garlossa is a much-sought-after Assamese fugitive allegedly involved in several cases of murder, extortion, kidnap, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy. The DHD, led by Dilip Nunisa, had entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Union government on January 2003. Jewel opposed that agreement and formed the DHD (Jewel), said the police officer who did not want to be named.
Since the formation of DHD (J), he had been demanding a separate state for Dimasas comprising North Cachar Hills, Cachar, Karbi Anglong, some parts of Nagaon and Dhansiripar and Dimapur in Nagaland.
Recently the DHD (J) instigated the Dimasas to kill Zeme Nagas in North Cachar Hills district in Assam, the officer alleged. In the past five months, the militant outfit had intensified its attacks against Zeme Nagas, the officer said.