From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI:Uneasy peace in the troubled but picturesque of Dima Hasao hill district in Assam has been reflected in the killing of the leader of a faction of the militant Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) on Thursday near Haflong in the district by unidentified assailants who are suspected by police from a rival group.
James Dimasa, leaders of the DHD (James) faction was shot dead from close range by assailants while he was coming out of his residence driving his SUV on Friday evening with his armed PSO provided by Assam police.
The incident occurred the day Government of India was holding dialogue with another DHD faction led by Dilip Nusina (DHD-N) in New Delhi to find a solution to vexed insurgency problem in the hill district where guns have remained silent of late after mass surrender DHD (Jewel Garlosa) faction in October 2009.
James Dimasa was a senior leader of DHD (Jewel) by he abstained from surrendering along with other cadres of the outfit led by commander in chief Niranjan Hojai and floated DHD (James). Though James did not formally lay down weapons, he was in touch with Assam police and holding fire because of some sort of understanding.
He was even provided PSO by the government for his protection.
His killings has once against brought to the for the complicated and fraction-ridded insurgency problem in the hill district whose immense tourism potential and development process have suffered irreversibly because of continuing militancy.
Meanwhile, a newly-formed insurgent group called Hill Tiger Force (HTF) on Friday claimed responsibility of killing of James Dimasa.
The HTF which is a militant group comprising cadres from non-Dimasa tribes, is opposed to the renaming of erstwhile North Cachar Hill district to Dima Hasao ( Dimasa Homeland) district as it is known now.
The outfit also opposed to proposed formation of a Dima Hasao Territorial Council as is being discussed by the government India with DHD miltant groups – DHD(N) and DHD (Jewel Garlosa) –in truce.