Guwahati (Assams.Info) - The Indian government on Tuesday rejected a unilateral ceasefire offered by the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) (popularly known as Black Widow) separatist group in Assam and asked them to lay arms before September 15, 2009.
Tarun Gogoi" height="154" width="200">Tarun Gogoi
“It was decided to give an ultimatum to the Black Widow, asking them to surrender and lay down arms by Sep 15 and stay in designated camps and then only we would hold peace talks with them,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
Mr. Gogoe said this after a meeting in New Delhi with central Home Minister P. Chidambaram to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in North Cachar Hill district in southern Assam where the DHD (J) was wreaking havoc. The militant outfit is fighting for a homeland for the Dimasa tribe in south Assam, is blamed for a string of violent attacks in the region in which about 100 people have been killed in the past six months.
Tarun Gogoi, who reviewed the ground situation in the insurgency-hit district and held key meetings with top administration and security officials, stressed that the DHD (J) must stop all kinds of insurgent activities and extortion campaigns as a precondition to talks.
