Incidents and Statements involving Black Widow: 2004-2012

2012

December 14: NIA has pleaded before the court for granting pardon to Samir Ahmed, an accused in the multi-crore Dima Hasao funds diversion scam, after he expressed his willingness to turn approver. Ahmed is one of the 16 persons chargsheeted by the NIA in this case, which was registered in connection with diversion of government funds meant for development of the area under NCHAC to the coffers of the DHD-J / BW.

November 26: DHD-J was officially disbanded in Haflong town as part of its tripartite MoS signed with the State and the Centre.

November 20: Gauhati High Court extended the interim bail period of DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai by another three months.

October 12: The DHD-N lodged complaints with Dispur and Delhi, alleging that the Jewel Gorlosa faction of the DHD had opened fire at one of their camps at Maibong in Dima Hasao District.

October 11: After signing the MoS with the two factions of Dima Hasao District based DHD on October 8, the Centre is now looking forward to a peace agreement with both the factions of the NDFB. The indication came on October 11 when Centre's interlocutor and former Intelligence Bureau chief P C Haldar met Ranjan Daimary, the chief of NDFB-RD, inside Guwahati Central Jail.

October 10: DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa has appealed to IPF, other organizations opposing the MoS signed between DHD-N, DHD-J and the Central, and State Government, to come and join the process of development in Dima Hasao District under a fresh atmosphere.

October 9: Security agencies think the rivalry between DHD factions [ DHD-J and DHD-N], which has been one of the causes of bloodshed, is unlikely to subside even after signing the MoS.

The tripartite MoS signed to end insurgency in the Dima Hasao District has angered the non-Dimasa tribes living in the District, including the Nagas, Kukis, and Hmars. Further, the Bengalis, the second largest community (approximately 32,000) in the District, continue to remain tight-lipped over the agreement.

APCC has welcomed the MoS that was signed between the Centre, State Government and both the factions of the DHD on October 8. APCC termed it as a "big achievement" for the Congress.

ACCO welcomed the peace initiative between the two factions of Dima Halim Daogah, [Dilip Nunisa faction of DHD (DHD-N) and Jewel Garlosa faction of DHD (DHD-J)] and termed the signing of the historic peace pact a step in the right direction.

ACKHSA has hailed the historic Dimasa Accord signed on October 8, 2012 which it believes will now accelerate the pace of development of the Dima Hasao District.

October 8: Central Government and both the DHD factions have delegated State Government with the task of dividing exiting Dima Hasao District into three administrative units.

September 28: The 48-hour Dima Hasao District bandh (General Strike) called by IPF, turned violent on the second day (September 28) when clashes erupted between bandh supporters and militants of DHD-J / BW at Sarkaribagan locality of Haflong. Seventeen people, including four Police personnel, eight bandh supporters and five DHD-J / BW cadres were injured in the clash.

June 20: Samir Ahmed, who was charge sheeted by the NIA for his alleged links with DHD-J / BW, expressed his desire to become a Government approver. Police arrested Ahmed, who worked as an executive of Hong Kong and HSBC Bank, along with Garlosa from Bangalore on June 3, 2009, and since then he is lodged at Guwahati Central Jail. According to NIA, Ahmed is a close associate of Garlosa and he had facilitated his stay in Bangalore and helped him get fake identity documents.

May 3: Central Government told Guwahati High Court (GHC) that "exigencies of administration and demand from civil society" were the reasons behind its decision not to oppose the bail pleas of militant leaders [BW 'Chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'Commander-in-Chief' Niranjan Hojai] and to expedite the peace process. Earlier, On April 26, GHC had asked Central Government to explain the circumstances and grounds on which they decided not to object to the bail petitions of top leaders of BW.

April 26: Gauhati HC ordered the Director-General of the NIA, the solicitor-general of India, the advocate-general of the State and the State home commissioner to appear personally before it to explain the circumstances and grounds on which they decided not to object to the bail petitions of the DHD-J / BW 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai. The HC pronounced the order during the hearing of a bail petition filed by Jayanta Kumar Ghosh, who was denied bail by NIA in the same case.

April 25: State Government has indicated that it will not rush into signing any memorandum of settlement with the BW / DHD-J. The basis of the move is that it will be difficult to accommodate the justified demands of the DHD-N, which is in a ceasefire since 2003, if it went ahead with its agreement only with the BW group.

April 12: BW militants abducted one person, identified as Rahul Warisa, from Haflong town and subsequently killed him at Natun quarry, near Disa Giding village in Dima Hasao District. The abduction and killing was committed by five militants - Dkhai Dimasa, Daorat Dimasa, Dakoa Dimasa, Berma Dimasa and Loten Dimasa - on the instruction of BW 'Deputy Chairman', Phifran Dimasa.

April 9: Guwahati HC extended the interim bail period of BW 'chairman' Jewel Gorlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai by more than three months. This time, the HC extended the bail until July 17 this year. In August 2011, the duo was first released on six months interim bail, which expired in January 2012. Later, the HC extended it for two months.

March 23: NSCN factions are helping smaller militant outfits of the Dima Hasao District.

March 19: SFs arrested one former cadre of DHD-J, identified as Bikash Bodo, from an unspecified area of Dima Hasao District.

February 11: State Police have arrested 620 cadres of various outfits involved in peace talks on charges of extortion, abduction and other crimes.

February 9: The Gauhati High Court extended the interim bail period of DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai for two months more until April 9, 2012.

January 2: BW 'commander in chief' Niranjan Hojai had bought a one-storey house at Dharan city in Nepal with extortion money.

2011

December 30: 97 surrendered militants belonging to BW left Haflong (Dima Hasao District) for Guwahati to join the Assam Police Service.

December 17: Joint Secretary (North East) of the MHA, Sambhu Singh admitted that the talks with the DHD-N have not been progressing satisfactorily. Singh said that on the other hand, talks with the DHD-J are progressing well and the leaders of the outfit are showing a positive attitude. He said that the Government of India has almost finalised an agreement with the DHD-J and a formal agreement is likely to be signed after the State Cabinet approves the same.

December 12: The Gauhati High Court extended the conditional interim bail period of DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'Commander-in-Chief' Niranjan Hojai by two months.

October 31: The Central Government has requested the Governments of Nepal and Singapore to investigate about the assets acquired by Niranjan Hojai, the 'commander in Chief' of DHD -J in those countries with money extorted in Assam.

October 20: Central Government has urged the Singapore government to investigate an account in a bank of that country which allegedly belongs to the BW militant group 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai.

October 13: Shambhu Singh said that the Government of India is planning to sign peace pacts with at least three militant outfits of the State by November. He said that the process of talks with the UPDS is complete and only the date for signing of the accord is to be decided. He pointed out that the Government was trying to make the KLNLF to sign the same pact, which delayed the process of signing of the pact with the UPDS. But the KLNLF could not make up its mind and the Government would not go ahead with the signing of the accord with UPDS, he added. He also said that talks with both factions of DHD-Jewel & DHD-Nunisa are in final stage and accords with the outfits are likely to be signed soon. On the progress of talks with the Pro-Talks faction of NDFB-PTF, Singh said that the outfit is still sticking to its demand for creation of a separate state and the Centre has already made it clear that there is no possibility of division of Assam.

Unidentified militants killed James Dimasa alias Pronit Haflongbar (31), leader of surrendered militant group Dima Halam Daogah-James (DHD-James), at Topodisa in Dima Hasao District. Dimasa had formed the DHD-James faction after breaking away from the Black Widow in 2009 and later surrendered in the same year.

October 9: IPF has called for a 12-hour Dima Hasao bandh (General Strike) on October 10 L in protest against the Central government's preparation for inking a treaty with the BW for the formation of an autonomous council.

September 2: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that a meeting with Assam's ethnic militant group KLNLF was scheduled for September 3 in Delhi. Union Home Ministry officials will meet a three-member KLNLF team. He, however, made it clear that there was no scope for negotiations on the KLNLF's demand for a separate state. Stating that most of the militant outfits were willing for peace talks, the Chief Minister said, "We want to sign an agreement soon with the KLNLF and UPDS." The BW group has already come forward though we have differences with the Nunisa Faction of DHD. But discussions are on with them."

August 24: 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai of Black Widow (BW) joined their cadres at Sarakaribagan designated camp in Haflong of Dima Hasao District after they were granted bail by Gauhati High Court on August 12.

August 18: A senior Home Department official said Assam Police is preparing to form a battalion in Assam Police with recruits from the surrendered cadres of DHD and BW. "We have to absorb them for rehabilitation and settlement. The selection process to recruit 235 men is on, after which they will be sent for training".

August 12: BW 'Chairman' Jewel Gorlosa and 'Commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai were granted a four-month interim bail by Gauhati High Court.

August 6: SFs dug out bodies of three Khelma villagers, Pielsuomlal Khelma, Jemchunlien Khelma and Zeichunglien Khelma from Lunding Khelmabasti in Dima Hasao District. They were kidnapped and killed by a team of BW militants in 2007 after they refused to pay annual 'tax' to the militant group.

July 25: NIA court postponed the bail petition hearing on the second case pending against BW 'chief' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai.

July 22: The Chief Minister said his Government was also pursuing peace talks with the Black Widow (BW). Gogoi also said the Government would soon start the peace process with the Adivasi People's Army (APA), which declared a unilateral ceasefire recently. "We have also got feelers from the All Adivasi National Liberation Army and we hope to start the peace process with them too".

July 21: a special court in Guwahati rejected a bail petition of BW 'chairman' Jewel Gorlosa and 'Commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai in connection with a case of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered against them to probe alleged siphoning of development funds of the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. The court also deferred the hearing of another bail petition of the duo in connection with the second NIA case.

July 20: BW "chief" Jewel Garlosa and "commander-in-chief" Niranjan Hojai are likely to be released on bail for starting peace talks with Government as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special public prosecutor on July 20 submitted a "no-objection certificate" from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Home department for the duo. Bijon Mahanjan, advocate of the duo said, "After special prosecutor of NIA submitted the no objection certificate for the duo, the court is likely to grant an interim bail to them. They will possibly get an interim bail for four months to sit for peace talks."

July 19: The dead body of a Bengali businessman, Subrata Dey (25), abducted by BW militants in May 2008 from Bisakisong, 10 kilometres from the Maibong sub-division headquarters, was recovered from Bisakisong Village in Dima Hasao District. According to Dima Hasao District Police, altogether 50 such missing cases were registered in different parts of the district since 2006, of which Haflong Police Station registered 12.

February 15: DNDF 'chairman' Janata Maramsa alias Bihari Dimasa was killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in Dima Hasao District. Bihari Dimasa was earlier a member of Black Widow (BW). When the outfit laid down arms on October 2, 2009, he along with some of his comrades abstained from surrendering and formed DNDF in February 2010.

2010

December 8: The Chief of the Black Widow (BW) Jewel Gorlosa, along with two other cadres of outfit, will be interrogated by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the diversion of funds meant for the NC Hills Autonomous District Council (NCHADC) to other States through hawala (illegal money transfer).

October 6: The 48-hour bandh (general shut down) of Dima Hasao District (erstwhile Karbi Anglong District) called by the BW has passed off without any untoward incident. The bandh, called by the insurgent outfit demanding the unconditional release of the militant leaders of the outfit including Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Garlosa paralyzed life in Haflong, the District headquarters, and elsewhere.

October 5: The probe into money laundering in North Cachar Hills by the Directorate of Enforcement was stalled as the officials of the investigating agency were not yet able to question the two top leaders of the BW.

October 4: The family members of ULFA ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah filed a petition in the Additional Sessions court for the release of Raju Baruah on bail. The family members of Chitraban Hazarika, Pranati Deka and Bhimkanta Buragohain also moved separate bail petitions for the release of Hazarika, Deka and Buragohain.

October 2: The surrendered BW cadres called for a 48-hour bandh (general shut down) in Dima Hasao District from 5am on October 5 in protest against the alleged Government’s apathy towards their demands. They would put an embargo on the movement of trains on the Lumding-Silchar rail line during that period.

October 2: The surrendered BW cadres called for a 48-hour bandh (general shut down) in Dima Hasao District from 5am on October 5 in protest against the alleged Government’s apathy towards their demands. They would put an embargo on the movement of trains on the Lumding-Silchar rail line during that period.

September 20: Alleging that the Government had failed to keep its promise of releasing Jewel Garlosa, Niranjan Hojai and other top leaders of BW, the Dimasa militant outfit which had surrendered on October 2, 2009 threatened to call an indefinite Dima Hasao District (erstwhile North Cachar Hills District) bandh (general shut down). BW now had set October 2 as the ultimate deadline and if the Government does not keep its promise, they would be compelled to call an indefinite Dima Hasao bandh.

September 13: The United People’s Federation of Assam (UPFA) has also claimed that some Nagaland-based militant outfits were now trying to destabilise the peace in Dima Hasao District (erstwhile North Cachar Hills District), which prevailed after the BW came into ceasefire. President of the federation, Jebra Ram Mooshahary, said, "There is a new militant outfit, which is operating in the Dima Hasao district. Backed by some Naga militants, this outfit, Hill Tigers’ Force, has spread its extortion net in the entire district."

August 25: The Union Minister said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that a number of groups are engaged in talks with the Government of India. Among them are NSCN-IM, pro-talk faction of the NDFB, Nunisa faction of the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD), BW, United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Kuki National Organization (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF), he said. H further added, "We have appointed two Interlocutors: RS Pandey to talk to the NSCN (IM) and PC Haldar to talk to NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), KLNLF, UPDS and ANVC, besides ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom]."

August 20: Niranjan Hojai, Partha Warisa and Samir Ahmed have been on a fast-unto-death agitation at Guwahati Central Jai, 416 cadres of the outfit have been on a 24-hour hunger strike at their designated camp at Haflong in Dima Hasao District (erstwhile North Cachar Hills District).

August 18: BW has threatened a 24-hour fast from 6 am of August 20 in support of the release of its jailed leaders and cadres. In a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the outfit resented that though its ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai led the surrender of the outfit’s leaders and 415 cadres on October 2, 2009, he was arrested on July 1, 2010. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made the arrest and he has been sent to the jail custody. The militant outfit has regarded this incident as a great injustice to it and this act of the Government has hampered the peace process in the Dima Hasao (erstwhile North Cachar Hills) District.

Centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar had a meeting with BW ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai in Guwahati, but the meeting failed to yield any positive result.

August 9: BW 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai and cadres Ashringdaw Warisa and Samir Ahmed have been on a 24-hour hunger strike in the jail from 6 am demanding immediate release of all BW cadres now in jail. They set a deadline for the Government to release them by August 19, failing which they would resort to a fast unto death. The BW cadres sent a memorandum to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram through the Superintendent of the Central Jail, Guwahati in this connection.

August 6: Jewel Garlosa, 'chief' of BW, along with 12 others was produced before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court on August 6 in connection with North Cachar Hills scam. Jewel is keen to evade the Enforcement Directorate inquiry into hawala transactions that such an inquiry would impact the peace process.

July 23: P.C. Haldar also met the representatives of the BW where a thorough discussion on the charter of demand took place.

July 22: Black Widow BW 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai rejected the narco-test on him as suggested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Hojai disapproved of the narco-test when he was produced by the NIA in a special court in Guwahati on. He had, however, agreed to go for the test a few days ago. The special court remanded Hojai in judicial custody.

Centre's peace interlocutor P.C.Haldar met BW 'chief' Jewel Gorlosa at Kahilipara.

July 19: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on took further remand of 'commander-in-chief' of BW Niranjan Hojai to take him to Delhi for "scientific tests". Though the NIA had sought his custody for 10 more days, the court of the special judge, Adhir Kumar Das, extended the custody for seven days.

July 7: The BW suspended its indefinite bandh (general shut down) in the Dima Hasao District for seven days in view of the inconvenience faced by the people. However, the outfit has warned of more "serious steps" if the Government did not fulfil its demands within the period of suspension of the bandh. But it has not lifted its ban on the movement of goods trains.

July 3: Niranjan Hojai, 'commander-in-chief' of the BW, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from a place near Nepal capital Kathmandu and brought to New Delhi. He was wanted in connection with the case relating to diversion of the funds of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council for procurement of weapons by the militant group.

He will be brought to Guwahati within a day or two for production before the court. NIA will seek further custody of the arrested militant leader for detailed questioning regarding militant-politician nexus in North Cachar Hills District. Sources pointed out that Hojai was one of the main accused in the case relating to militant-politician nexus in North Cachar Hills. The BW has given a call for a day-long Dima Hasao District bandh (general shut down) on July 4 in protest against the arrest of Niranjan Hojai.

The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Dima Hasao District and Dimasa Student's Union (DSU) blamed the Government that instead of releasing the 'chief' of the BW Jewel Garlosa and other BW leaders from judicial custody and granting general amnesty to the BW leaders to enable the BW leaders to hold peace talks with the Government, the Government had arrested Niranjan Hojai and has not yet lifted the ban on the BW. The Government would be responsible for any eventuality in case the BW breaks the peace agreement on the ground that the Government was reluctant to release Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Gorlosa from the judicial custody.

June 18: Assam Tribune reports that the CBI had been given only a limited mandate to into the root of corruption in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. Sources revealed that during the course of investigation of a case of use of Council funds for procurement of weapons by the militants belonging to the BW the NIA came across a few isolated incidents of irregular financial dealings in six departments of the Council and as investigating into such dealings was not under the purview of the NIA, it recommended a probe by the CBI.

May 25: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Guwahati said that there had been a dramatic improvement in the State's security scenario. He said that a number of leaders of the major insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and the BW had been arrested. He also informed that while the Chief Minister has been asked to carry forward the political process for negotiation with the militant outfits the Security Forces have been instructed 'to continue implementing the policy that is in force.'

April 16: One cadre of the Manipur-based People's United Liberation Front (PULF), identified as Kalam Uddin of Makhan Nagar area under Jirighat Police Station in Cachar District, was arrested by the Security Forces. One demand note or extortion notice of INR 0.2 million, which was to be served on some individual or business house of the area, was recovered from his possession. PULF after lying low in Barak Valley for long respite has been trying to regroup and spread its presence, following the hiatus created by the surrender of BW and the subdued presence of People's Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP).

April 12: The Assam Government has to spend around INR 7.59 million a month for the 4,006 militant cadres who have been staying in various designated camps in the State. The militant outfits now in ceasefire and whose cadres are in such camps are the UPDS, DHD, BW, NDFB, Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), Birsa Commando Force (BCF), KLNLF and the ULFA.

March 29: Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of 875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the NDFB has 225 cadres, AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres, Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D) has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres. The Minister further said that the Unified Command structure is active in the State for launching coordinated operations against militants. The Minister informed the House that in the last two years, 535 persons, including 494 civilians and 41 SFs, were killed by militants, while, during the same period, 333 militants were killed by SFs in counter-insurgency operations. He added that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms to join the mainstream.

March 28: The Assam Government will have to take the lead role in early completion of talks with militant groups of the State, which already signed cease-fire agreements for peaceful solution of the problems. Sources said that the Union Government had a very limited role in the process of talks with the militant groups like pro-talk faction of the NDFB, UPDS, KLNLF, DHD and BW. Sources added that in case of the militant groups of Assam, the Union Government had already ruled out the possibility of division of Assam and asked the militant groups to seek solution of the problems within the geographical boundaries of the State.

March 16: More than 10,000 militants surrendered before the Government in Assam since 1998. As per the list submitted by the Assam Government in the State Assembly, the ULFA topped the list of surrendered militants as during the period from 1998 to March 5, 2010, more than 4260 militants belonging to the outfit have laid down arms. The list included 2711 militants of the BLT, which was disbanded following the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement between the Government and the outfit in 2003. The list included 514 KLNLF and 416 BW militants. These outfits surrendered weapons to come for talks with the Government for political solution of their problems.

March 8: The Assam Government assured the Assembly that all efforts were on to trace the ‘commander-in-chief’ of BW, Niranjan Hojai, who had gone missing from a designated camp about two months ago. According to other sources, Hojai could remain in hiding till the political process with the BW begins and he manages to get amnesty. "In that case, he doesn’t have to go to jail although the process of getting amnesty could be time consuming. Otherwise, he lands in jail as soon as he surfaces," a source said, adding the court could soon declare him a "proclaimed offender". Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said that action would be taken against the cadres of the militant groups who had fled their designated camps. So far, 15 BW militants, seven DHD militants, 40 NDFB militants and five ULFA cadres have fled their designated camps.

March 2: In the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly started, the Governor of Assam, J. B. Patnaik said that the Government is ready for talks with the militants within the framework of the Constitution of India. In his speech, the Governor said that there has been perceptible improvement of the law and order situation mainly because of constant pressure by the SFs. A number of top United Liberation Front of Asom ULFA leaders were arrested in last few months, while, two important militant groups - KLNLF and Black Widow surrendered arms. "While we will continue to deal with any act of violence firmly, I would like to say that the doors are open for negotiation within the framework of the Constitution of India," the Governor added.

January 28: Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reviewed the security scenario in the State in a high level meeting with the officials of the Assam Government. Sources said that there have been some disturbing intelligence inputs about the situation in the bordering areas and though, BW group, surrendered weapons, the situation in the hill district remains a matter of concern. As the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM (NSCN-IM) is under cease-fire agreement with the Government of India, the activities of the militants of the group in North Cachar Hills have become a matter of serious concern and it was one of the key points of discussions in the meeting. The Government of India has taken serious note of a newly formed militant group United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA), which snatched weapons from the headquarters of an Assam Police battalion in Cachar in November, 2010. Sources added that the activities of the newly formed militant outfit were one of the issues discussed. In addition to these, the overall law and order situation was reviewed and the State Government was asked to make optimum utilization of the forces available as it might not be possible for the Centre to rush additional forces whenever required.

January 11: Assam Government invited leaders of the BW for "advanced talks" on the outfit’s demands. "We have had several rounds of talks till now on how best to meet their demands and rehabilitation. Tomorrow’s [January 12] discussions are of an advanced nature. We are hopeful of a major breakthrough very soon. Things are on track and moving ahead smoothly," a Government source said.

2009

December 17: The BW ‘chief’ Jewel Gorlosa is remanded to the Police custody by a court in Nagaon.

December 1: The Peace talks with militant groups like BW, UPDS and the pro-talk faction of the NDFB are likely to be expedited as the Union Government’s interlocutor for the peace talks, P.C. Haldar has started the process and the Union Government is also reportedly keen on early solution of the problems. Official sources said that Haldar, a former Director of the IB, arrived in Guwahati to hold preliminary talks with the militant outfits under cease-fire agreement with the Government. Sources said that during the visit, Haldar would stay in the State for at least four to five days and he would be holding preliminary talks with the leaders of the outfits. Sources said that Haldar would be visiting Haflong in North Cachar Hills District for talks with the leaders of the BW followed by a visit to Diphu in Karbi Anglong District for talks with the UPDS leadership. He will also hold talks with the leaders of the pro-talk group leaders of the NDFB. However, sources said that the present visit of the former IB chief is only to hold preliminary talks with the outfits to know their psychology and demands.

November 26: The BW challenged the ban imposed on it by the Union Government before a specially designated UAP Tribunal. Replying to a showcause notice issued by the Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal, the ‘chairman’ of the BW, Jewel Gorlosa, through his counsels, pleaded before the tribunal not to confirm the ban imposed on the outfit under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. Gorlosa contended that the outfit couldn’t be declared a banned organisation since it had returned to the mainstream with the ceremonial surrender of its cadres on October 2, 2009. Advocates Bijon Mahajan, Arshad Choudhury and Meena Kharkongor appeared on behalf of Gorlosa before the UAP tribunal headed by Justice Kailash Gambhir, a Delhi High Court judge, in Shillong. In his written reply, challenging the legality of the ban, Gorlosa stated that the outfit’s cadres were staying in designated camps, abiding by the ground rules of the ceasefire. The Union Home Ministry had issued a notification declaring the BW an unlawful association on July 9, 2009. The tribunal has fixed December 3 and 4 as the next dates for hearing in New Delhi.

November 22: The arms smuggler Joseph Mizo alias Vanlalchhana, who was arrested by the NIA during the course of its investigation into the diversion of public money to insurgent activities, had reportedly supplied at least ten consignments of sophisticated arms and ammunition to the BW. The sophisticated weapons included rifles of the latest N-16 series. Joseph Mizo in return had received a payment of INR ten million at least on three occasions. These revelations were made by the NIA in the chargesheet which it had submitted on November 17, 2009. The chargesheet also mentioned that Joseph, a resident of Aizawl in the State of Mizoram, was a frequent visitor to places like Thailand and Singapore, where he had several rounds of meeting with Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Garlosa.

November 18: Several BW cadres are reported to have fled from their designated camps in North Cachar Hills District along with weapons over the past three days. Confirming the desertion, the 'chairman' of pro-talks faction of the DHD, Dilip Nunisa, blamed it on the cadres' frustration over the slow progress of talks with the Government. Nunisa said over phone from Haflong that the first desertion by 11 unarmed cadres was from a camp in Umrangsu, an industrial town 140 kilometres from Haflong in North Cachar Hills District, on November 15. Another group of four cadres fled from the Deogbra camp, taking at least four AK-47 assault rifles with them in the night of November 18. All the deserters are from lower ranks, Nunisa said. Police in Haflong suspect that the deserters could join the newly formed James faction of the BW which was not part of the mass surrender by the BW outfit on October 2, 2009. The James faction is said to comprise 20-25 cadres. The names of the fugitives are yet to be identified.

November 17: The NIA, which is probing the alleged diversion of funds of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council to the BW outfit, has charge-sheeted the former chief of the council, Mohit Hojai, and 13 others, including the BW's 'chief' Jewel Gorlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai. The NIA also prayed before the court to summon Hojai, who is lodged in a designated camp after surrendering on October 2, 2009 along with other cadres of the outfit. A source in the NIA said the court could, if it wanted, remand Niranjan Hojai in custody. The accused have been charged under Sections 120 (B), 121, 121 (A) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

October 28: The breakaway faction of the BW led by James Dimasa is expected to surrender in the next few days. A senior Police official in the District headquarters of Haflong in North Cachar Hills District said the faction led by Pronit Haflongbar alias James Dimasa (29) was in contact with some Administrative and Police officials to arrive at a consensus on the venue, time and terms of their possible surrender. James, a resident of Tapodisha in Haflong, and his group had deserted the BW earlier in 2009. Officials said the faction did not surrender fearing dilution of its demand for Dimaraji, a separate State for the Dimasas. James is reported to have changed his position after speaking to BW leader Niranjan Hojai, who led his cadres to surrender on October 2, 2009. As a prelude to the final surrender of the James faction, some of its cadres surrendered before the Army in the Hmar-dominated Churachandpur town of Manipur. While 16 cadres surrendered on September 18, two surrendered on October 26. The James faction is now said to have 19 cadres.

The BW militants, who earlier surrendered in North Cachar Hills District and are currently housed in four designated camps, have started issuing demand notes to the contractors engaged in the Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Project within just three weeks of the ceremonial surrender. A source close to the Railway Contractors’ Association said the surrendered BW militants attacked a vehicle of the ABCI, a construction company, on October 18, 2009 and damaged it. The driver of the vehicle was also assaulted by the militants, the source said. The incident took place at Kapurcherra where a designated camp for the surrendered militants has been started. Meanwhile, another source said that the October 18 incident was actually the handiwork of the splinter faction of BW led by James Dimasa.

October 26: 12 militants, including five cadres belonging to the Military Defence Force faction of the KYKL, four cadres belonging to Military Council faction of the United Kuki Liberation Army, two cadres of the BW and one cadre from the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak PREPAK, surrendered at Assam Rifles headquarters in Churachandpur District.

October 22: Five top leaders of the recently-surrendered BW outfit, including its ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai, are reportedly in Nepal on a "secret mission" to sell off assets in that country which the outfit had bought to bankroll its now-discarded armed movement in the North Cachar Hills District. A source was quoted as saying that the Assam Government has allowed the five to go to Nepal on a special request made by Hojai. Though Police have not mentioned their whereabouts, a submission in a court by the NIA indicated that the five former militants were not in their designated camps. The NIA on October 22 told the court that it had sought the custody of five BW cadres — Hojai, David Dimasa, Daniel Dimasa, Maurang Dimasa and Daku Dimasa — for interrogation in connection with the alleged diversion of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council funds to the outfit. The Police told the NIA that these cadres were outside Assam and would be available only after October 27.

October 11: Construction companies and businessmen in the North Cachar Hills District are still reportedly receiving extortion demands from the BW despite the surrender of a large number of militants from the outfit. "The calls are more of a request now," a Police official posted in the District said. He said the demands were generally for a few millions of rupees. "The cadres may be staying in designated camps and their movement monitored but in the days of cell phone, calls cannot be stopped," the official added.

October 2: The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced financial assistance worth INR 500 million and promised more when 360 BW cadres formally surrendered at Haflong in North Cachar Hills District.

September 22: At least 12 BW cadres led by 'lance corporal' Dauthau Dimasa surrendered before the Karbi Anglong District Police. They deposited four AK series rifles and 590 rounds of ammunition. "The surrendered cadres will be shifted to North Cachar Hills and put up at the Jatinga camp along with the others," an unnamed senior Police Official in the North Cachar Hills District said.

September 22: Nearly 50 armed cadres of the BW are unaccounted for in North Cachar Hills District. "It is an area of concern, but since a dozen cadres surrendered even yesterday in Karbi Anglong District, we are hopeful that the others will follow suit," a source in the District's security apparatus said. Sources said the outfit had given a list of about 450 cadres, but only 373 had deposited weapons and moved into designated camps on September 13 and 14. Another source said even among the 373 cadres who had come over-ground, there were several who did not appear to be militants. Doubting that they are militants as they are very young, he said that they could have been co-opted by the outfit to inflate its cadre strength and also to give them an opportunity at rehabilitation and thus an earning avenue.

September 18: The BW sought a camp at Mahur in North Cachar Hills District to deny any conflict with the Naga militant outfits in the wake of the Dimasa outfit laying down arms. The BW feels that Naga outfits would try to expand their area of influence in the District, taking advantage of the cease-fire by the Dimasa outfits. The DHD is already under a cease-fire since 2003 and cadres of the Jewel faction laid down arms earlier this week. The NSCN-IM faction has been demanding integration of the Naga-inhabited areas of North Cachar Hills, contiguous to Nagaland, in its proposed Naga homeland. Mahur is one such stretch. The DHD already has a camp in another Naga-populated area of Maibong. The 373 BW militants who came overground on September 13 and September 14 are now housed in two camps at Jatinga and Kapucherra. The non-Dimasa population in Jatinga is objecting to the camp, fearing that it would give an upper hand to the Dimasas in the area although it cited a "sense of insecurity" as its reason. Sources said that the BW, while seeking a camp at Mahur, pointed out to State Government that the Naga militant outfit, which has a strong presence in the Naga-dominated areas, might target Dimasa villages in these areas.

September 14: The second batch of 180 BW militants surrendered arms, taking the total number of cadres to 373. A Police source said the militants set out from Dihangi, about 30 kilometres from Haflong, to Sontilla, the headquarters of the 5th Assam Police Battalion, where they deposited their arms. The extremists are to be shifted to their designated camp in Kapurtalla near Harangajao in the North Cachar Hills District. Four camps have been set up at various locations to house the militants during the peace talks. Among those who surrendered are frontline leaders Mindao Dimasa and Prakash Dimasa. With the duo's arrival, all field-level leaders of the outfit have joined the peace process. The outfit's 'chief', Jewel Gorlosa, and its 'deputy commander-in-chief' Partha Warisa, are now in judicial custody after being arrested from Bangalore on June 3, 2009. Niranjan Hojai, the 'commander-in-chief', has agreed to be present at the formal surrender ceremony of the Jewel Gorlosa followers, expected to be held on September 24, 2009 in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Haflong.

September 13: 193 BW militants surrendered along with their arms before the SFs. The cadres first gathered at Thanalambra, about 35 kilometres from Haflong, District headquarters of North Cachar Hills, before proceeding to the 5th Assam Police Battalion headquarters at Sontilla to deposit their weapons. They laid down over 70 weapons in the presence of Police officials. Among those who surrendered were BW leaders Daniel Dimasa, Maurang and Daku Dimasa. The cadres are to be moved into five designated camps in different parts of the District.

September 8: The splinter faction of the BW, led by James Dimasa, said that they will not surrender. Jonadon Dimasa, spokesman of the splinter faction, reportedly told the local media that they will not surrender.

September 7: SFs brought 10 BW cadres along with ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Daniel Dimasa to Haflong from Lungting under tight security. The group is expected surrender with arms on September 13.

September 6: The BW outfit is likely to accept the Government’s deadline to surrender arms by September 15 to come overground to solve problems through talks, reports Assam Tribune. Official sources said the outfit is in touch with the Government and the possibility of the outfit meeting the deadline of the Government is quite possible "if everything goes smoothly".

September 1: The Union Government gave BW an ultimatum to formally surrender after fulfilling all the pre-conditions till September 15. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, after attending a meeting chaired by Union Minister of Home Affairs P. Chidambaram, addressed the media and said the BW has been given time till middle of September to surrender. This is in response to their offer for unilateral cease-fire announced some three months ago. "If they surrender by September 15 and follow our pre-conditions, we are willing to accept their offer for ceasefire," said Gogoi.

August 28: Two BW militants, identified as Monraj Johari and Ajit Nunisa, were arrested from Amteka Dwimuguri under Bijni Police station in the Chirang District.

August 21: A Sessions Court in Guwahati sent Malsawmkimi (31) to judicial custody for 14 days. Malsawmkimi was arrested by the Kolkata Police and the National Investigation Agency on August 13 from a hotel for her links with the BW militants.

August 12: The Kolkata Police arrested two persons for allegedly supplying arms to the BW and recovered INR 2.38 hundred thousand in cash and several important documents. The duo, identified as Malsawm Kimi (31), of Ranhlun Vengthar in Aizawl, and George Lam Thang (31), of Electric Bazaar in Aizawl, were arrested from the Esplanade in the central part of the Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, adds Assam Tribune. According to an STF statement, the arrest of these two militants was due to information received from the National Investigation Agency which was ordered by the Union Government to probe the seizure of huge sums of cash in Assam in February and April 2009.

July 27: The Assam Government has ruled out renaming the North Cachar Hills District - one of the key demands raised by the BW outfit. The BW wants the District to be renamed as Dima Hasao. The Urban Development Minister D. P. Goala told Telegraph that a committee, headed by him and constituted to examine the issue, in its report submitted recently has pointed out the difficulties in renaming the District because non-Dimasas constitute the majority in the District. "We have examined every aspect of the proposal to rename the District. We have pointed out the difficulties in renaming the district as the Dimasas constitute only 43 per cent of the total population," Goala said. The other members of the committee include ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rockybul Hussain. Home Commissioner R.K. Bora was the convenor of the committee, he added. Sources in the Chief Minister's office said renaming the District according to the BW's wishes would only escalate ethnic tension between the Dimasas and non-Dimasas in the District. The non-Dimasas are opposed to the name proposed by the BW.

July 22: Assam Tribune quoting the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram reports that the BW outfit may soon lay down arms to come forward for talks with the Government. This was disclosed by Chidambaram while replying to the debate on the demand for grant for the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament. Chidambaram said the Union Government had given a pre-condition to the militants to come for talks and as per the same, the militants would have to abjure violence, lay down arms and stay in the designated camps to come for talks. He said the Government received signals that the BW is willing to come forward for talks by abiding by the preconditions laid down by the Government.

July 12: The BW group served an extortion note of INR 20 million on the Kopili hydro-electric project of NEEPCO at Umrangsu in North Cachar Hills District. The note sent by post is the first major extortion demand of the outfit since the recent arrest of its ‘chief’ Jewel Gorlosa and ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Partha Warisa. Umrangsu Police said the Deputy General Manager of NEEPCO, Tulsi Barua, had filed a complaint with Umrangsu Police Station in the same afternoon and handed over the extortion note.

July 2: The Union Government banned the BW outfit in the wake of its involvement in the recent violence in Assam. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

June 26: A suspected linkman of the BW, identified as Jitumoni Kemprai (55), was shot dead in an encounter with the SFs near Diduki village under Maibang Police Station in North Cachar Hills District. One SLR rifle was recovered from the encounter site.

June 25: Quoting highly placed security sources, Assam Tribune reported that the ULFA, anti-talks faction of the NDFB and the BW outfits have joined hands as they were under pressure from the on going operation against them by Security Forces. Sources said that at present ULFA cadres led by Hira Sarania are reportedly moving around in the areas bordering Bhutan in the Chirang and Baska Districts and they may try to trigger explosions with the help of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB. Sources also said the Black Widow group has established ties with the anti-talks faction of the NDFB. There have also been reports that a few Black Widow militants have managed to go to Bangladesh along with cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB.

June 19: All the six Doordarshan Television channel employees manning the Low Power Transmitter located at Haflong in the North Cachar Hills District fled following an extortion demand by the BW. Doordarshan sources said the relay centre had been shut down for the past two weeks.

June 16: Suspected BW militants shot dead 12 persons and set ablaze 20 houses in an attack at Michidui village under Haflong Police Station of North Cachar Hills District. Police sources said a group of armed militants attacked Michidui and opened indiscriminate fire killing 12 persons, including eight minors, on the spot. Two other persons were also injured in the attack. Police said the village, inhabited by Zeme Naga people, was abandoned following the recent incidents of ethnic clashes and the villagers had taken shelter near a camp of the Assam Rifles camp located around three kilometers away. But recently, the villagers had started going back to the village during day time for cultivation and the militants reportedly took advantage of the situation to attack them.

June 16: The NIA released the sketch of John Mizo alias Shambhu Pradhan, the most wanted gun-runner responsible for supplying arms and ammunition to various Northeast based militant groups, especially the BW outfit. John, who operates from Mizoram and Meghalaya, is wanted in connection with several cases pertaining to arms dealing, besides the case registered by NIA to probe the hidden nexus between politicians and militant groups. John, according to Police, is the person who was to be paid INR ten million that was recovered from two BW militants along the Assam-Meghalaya border on April 1. The BW had already received a consignment of over 60 rifles of AK series in the aforementioned deal. The Additional Superintendent of Police of the Special Task Force, Manabendra Deb Rai, who along with a few other Assam Police officials has been inducted into the investigation team as support staff of the NIA, released the sketch of the arms dealer.

June 14: One BW militant, M Dimasa, was shot dead in an encounter with Assam Rifles personnel at Longma in Baska District in the same night. One AK-47 rifle along with a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

June 12: Quoting the confession of arrested BW chief Jewel Gorlosa, Telegraph reported that bamboo trade in the North Cachar Hills was one of the major money-spinners for the outfit. A senior Police official said the BW on an average was extorting INR five millions per month from bamboo merchants in the District. "Following the interrogation of Jewel Gorlosa and other members and sympathisers of the BW, it has come to light that the outfit has extorted money to the tune of several millions of rupees from the bamboo suppliers over the years," he said. "Ransom collected from contractors engaged in the projects and bamboo traders, and diversion of development funds allocated to the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council were the main sources of money for the BW," he added.

June 6: Two BW militants surrendered before the Army along with arms in the Maibong town of North Cachar Hills District. A source in the North Cachar Hills District administration identified the duo as Prabesh Singyung alias Martin Dimasa and Manjit Jidung alias Handsome Dimasa. The duo deposited a sophisticated M-16 rifle, a 9mm pistol and assorted ammunition, including two M-16 magazines and 36 live ammunition. The source further added that around 30 to 40 cadres would soon surrender formally. The team includes three top cadres identified as James, Bihari and Dinob.

June 4: In a joint operation with the Karnataka Police, Assam Police arrested the 'chairman' and 'chief' of the BW outfit, Jewel Gorlosa, from Bangalore, capital of Karnataka. Sources revealed that Gorlosa was out of North Cachar Hills District for a long time and different security agencies were trying to track him. Central intelligence agencies managed to track him in Bangalore where he was living for around two months. An Assam Police team headed by the Deputy Inspector General (Central Western Range) G.P. Singh raided an apartment at Arakere cross off Bannerghatta road in Bangalore on June 3-night and arrested Jewel, Partha Warisa and Samir Ahmed. Passbooks, ATM cards, mobile phones, cash and other documents have been seized from them.

Senior BW leader Niranjan Hojai would be the next 'chairman' of the banned militant outfit. Stating that the arrest of Jewel Garlosa could not weaken the organization, BW 'deputy chairman' Daniel Garlosa reportedly said that Niranjan Hojai, a nephew of the arrested North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council chief executive member Mohit Hojai, would lead the outfit from now onwards.

Frankey Dimasa, the self-styled 'foreign secretary' of the banned BW outfit, was shot dead in an encounter with the Guwahati City Police in an unspecified area of the city. Three other BW militants, however, managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Police recovered a foreign-made pistol from the possession of the slain militant.

June 3: Suspected BW militants shot dead five persons, including two children, and set ablaze 54 houses when they attacked Borchenam Basti, a Zeme Naga inhabited village under Haflong Police Station in the North Cachar Hills District. Police sources informed that BW militants entered the village at around 5am (IST) killing two minor girls, two old women and one teen-aged boy in the attack. Another child was seriously injured, the report added.

May 30: Police arrested the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Mohit Hojai, for allegedly giving INR 10 million to two persons for purchasing arms for a militant outfit. R.H. Khan, a liaison official of the District council and a former deputy director in the social welfare department, was also arrested along with Hojai from Halflong in North Cachar Hills District. Sources said Hojai had been kept at an undisclosed location and would be interrogated in connection with the recent recovery of INR 10 million from Brojen Hojai and Babul Kemprai, who were arrested from the Assam-Meghalaya border on April 2. Apart from the cash, two small weapons and stationery of the BW outfit were also recovered from their possession. The duo alleged that Mohit Hojai had given them the money to purchase weapons for the BW from an international arms dealer. Mohit Hojai had gone underground for over two months after the incident, but surfaced in Haflong town last month and took charge of the council. A Police team from Guwahati went to Haflong and arrested Hojai. Sources said Hojai had paid the amount to the BW as "protection money".

May 27: Police recovered 37 gelatines and 50 electronic detonators from a bus from the Kheroni Police Station area of Karbi Anglong District. The explosives were suspected to be carried for the BW militant outfit. The driver Ainul Haque and helper Noor Ahmed Ali of the bus were detained for further interrogation.

As many as 67 companies of Security Forces are now operating in the North Cachar Hills District and a high level Central team held discussions with the Government of Assam to ensure peace in the District. An unnamed official told to Assam Tribune that the main focus at this moment is to ensure smooth running of trains in the wake of possibility of shortage of food stuff in the Barak Valley Districts and in the States of Mizoram and Tripura in the wake of frequent disruption of train services in the hill section due to attacks by the BW.

May 25: The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram issued a stern warning to the BW militants, stating that the challenge thrown at the State would be met. Replying to questions, Chidambaram said that he was aware of the situation in the hill areas of Assam. "The BW has thrown a challenge to the State, we will respond to the challenge," he said.

May 22: 12 persons were injured when a group of eight militants of the BW outfit attacked a goods train in the North Cachar Hills District. Police sources said the Badarpur-bound train from Lumding was attacked between the Langting and Dijaobra stations. Two railway personnel, including an assistant engineer, three personnel of the India Reserve Battalion and seven constables of Assam Police were injured in the attack. The militants fled when "the security personnel inside the heavily fortified goods train retaliated strongly," a Maibong Police source said.

May 19: Unidentified BW militants opened fired upon a heavily fortified goods train coming from Lumding and bound for Lower Haflong. The attack took place between Mahur and Phaiding railway stations in the same District. The SFs retaliated by firing about 10 rounds on the six-odd militants who fled away into the nearby hills. However, nobody was injured in the attack.

May 13: One Assam Rifles soldier, Kamal Dogra, was shot dead when the BW militants ambushed a joint patrol team of the Army and Assam Rifles at Gunjung in the North Cachar Hills District.

May 7: Black Widow BW militants blew up a goods train at a place between Diaojabra and Langting railway stations in North Cachar Hills District. The train was on its way to Badarpur from Lumding. Reports indicated that there were two "blasts on the tracks followed by firing by militants". Ten wagons of the train derailed and one soldier and a few railway staff sustained minor injuries in the subversion. The deputy 'commander-in-chief' of the BW, Daniel Dimasa, called up journalists claiming responsibility for the attack.

May 6: Assam Police arrested five BW militants from different areas of the Guwahati city in Kamrup District.

April 29: The violence between the Zeliangrong community and Cacharis in North Cachar Hills District continued for the second day which had claimed 10 lives and 16 others sustained injuries. The clashes between the two communities of Zeme sub-tribe of Zeliangrong and the Cacharis (Dimasas) started after suspected BW militants killed nine persons of the Zemes sub-tribe of the Zeliangrong community on April 28. Later, suspected Zeliangrong militants retaliated and attacked a Dimasa village. The sources said that the Zeliangrong Chabuan have set ablaze 25 houses of Yekulua village between Boreneu and Guilong of Haflong in North Cachar Hills District. Before setting ablaze the 25 houses, the two communities exchanged gunfire and 10 Dimasas were killed and 16 others wounded. Meanwhile, Telegraph quoting Police sources said there the role of a third player, most probably of the NSCN-IM, was also being suspected.

April 26: Three SF personnel were injured when suspected BW militants ambushed the ration-loaded relief trains at two separate incidents in North Cachar Hills. Police said at least a dozen BW militants, hiding atop the Barail range, fired at the engine and brake-van of the relief train between the Mahur and Migrengdisa railway stations in North Cachar Hills. When the SF personnel on board retaliated, the militants ran away. The ambush site is about 92 kilometers from Lumding. The other relief train was attacked at Bagetar, 74 kilometres from the Badarpur station in the same District. There was no report of casualties in this incident.

April 23: Two SF personnel were killed and seven others injured when militants attacked the SFs at two different places in the North Cachar Hills District. Sub-Inspector of the SSB, Bhopal Singh, died on the spot and Constable Dinesh Singha was injured when unidentified militants ambushed their vehicle at Wardingsa under Maibong Police Station. Four civilians travelling in the truck also sustained injuries. In another incident, one Army personnel, Sanajy Singh, was killed and two Army officers were injured during an encounter with the BW militants at Langting town in the same District.

April 20: SFs arrested one BW militant, identified as Ram Chandra Sharma, from Dimapur. During interrogation, Ram Chandra Sharma, currently residing at Lingrijan area of Dimapur, confessed he was involved in supplying arms and ammunition to the BW.

BW militants shot dead six persons, including five SF personnel, in an ambush on the convoy of a private cement company's vehicles in the North Cachar Hills District. The militants ambushed the 20-truck convoy of Vinay Cement Company at Panimur Kalanala under Doyangmukh Police station, near the industrial town of Umrangsu and 170 kilometres from the Haflong, the District headquarters of North Cachar Hills District. A Police official said militants fired only on the two trucks in which personnel of 16th IRB were escorting the company's employees from Lanka to Umrangsu. The militants later fled into the jungles taking with them five guns of the IRB personnel, he added. The Superintendent of Police in North Cachar Hills District, Mridulananda Sarma, said there were nine IRB personnel in the convoy of whom five were killed. The sixth was the driver of a truck in the convoy.

April 17: Police arrested two BW militants, Gokul Giri Nepali and Somarjit Hashu, during a search operation near the Industry Gate area in Dimapur. One AK-47, some ammunition and documents belonging to the group were recovered from their possession. Police said Gokul Giri Nepali had supplied about 300 AK-47 rifles and large quantity of live ammunition and explosives while Somarjit Hashu had gone to collect some consignment from Gokul’s house. The duo confessed during interrogation that two AK-47 rifles along with 233 live rounds of AK 47, which were smuggled from Myanmar, were passed on to a militant group two days back. According to Police, the duo also revealed that the BW was commanded by one ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ James and was active in the entire Northeast, especially in Assam.

April 12: BW militants attacked the RPF personnel guarding railway property in the North Cachar Hills District. Official sources said the militants attacked RPF personnel guarding the Dautohaja station under Mahur Police Station. The RPF personnel along with Army personnel who were inside the station retaliated and an encounter followed but the militants managed to escape. No loss of life or damage to the property was reported.

April 11: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs), identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Lalit Borgohain and Constable Biseswar Bora, were killed and another was injured when the BW militants attacked a goods train at Dijaodra under Langting Police Station in North Cachar Hills District. Police sources said the train carrying essential commodities from Lumding to Badarpur was targeted by the militants between Disaubra and Langting, around 20 kilometers from the Lumding station. The Maibong Sub-divisional Officer Ghana Kanta Pegu said the militants attacked the engine and the bogie carrying railway security personnel.

April 10: One CRPF constable was killed and 17 persons were injured when the BW militants opened indiscriminate fire on the Badarpur-Lumding Barak Express train in North Cachar Hills District. The attack took place near Wadrengdisha between Haflong and Maibong railway stations, 30 kilometres from the District headquarters Haflong. The slain paramilitary personnel was later identified as A.K. Tiwari of the 144th battalion of CRPF. Two women and two children were also among the injured.

April 8: A convoy of the Election Commission’s observers in North Cachar Hills District was ambushed by BW militants. Police said that Central Election Observer Arun Chandra Singh and his team were traveling in a five-vehicle convoy from District headquarter Haflong to Umrangshu when militants hiding inside the forest opened fire on the convoy at Jungum, about 20 kilometers from Haflong. However, no one was injured and neither was the vehicles damaged.

April 2: Assam Police arrested two BW militants, identified as Brajen Hojai and Babul Kemprai, on the Assam-Meghalaya border along with INR 10 million. Police sources said the duo were going to hand over the money to members of an international arms racket of Mizoram against which the militant group had already received the consignment of weapons, which included over 60 rifles of AK series. Police also recovered two foreign-made pistols, of which one was licensed, from their possession. Brajen confessed to Police and media that the money was brought by Kemprai from the residence of Mohit Hojai, chief executive member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

Telegraph reports that several Naga community organisations led by the Naga Hoho (apex tribal council) strongly warned the BW militants to immediately stop atrocities against the Naga people in the North Cachar Hills District or face a backlash.

March 28: Suspected militants shot dead Laibala Langthasa (55), mother of a BW militant, John Dimasa, at Vidingpur Dimasa Basti under Maibong Police Station in the North Cachar Hills District.

March 27: Shillong Times reports that settlers who are mainly outsiders engaged in farming, as well as daily wage labourers and petty shopkeepers in the Karbi Anglong District pay ransom thrice a year to different militant outfits, including KLNLF, Dimasa National Liberation Front and Black Widow (BW). The sum ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 50,000 depending upon the economic condition of the person.

March 19: Two unidentified BW militants were shot dead by the Army personnel at Solpaithong in the Cachar District. An AK-47 and an AK-56 rifle were recovered from the slain militants.

March 8: The BW militants shot dead one Jogendra Langthasa (65), father of Ranendra Langthasa, a former executive member of the same outfit, at Gunjung area of Haflong in the North Cachar Hills District. Langthasa’s mother also sustained bullet injuries in the incident.

The Guwahati city Police arrested three BW militants, identified as Debojit Thousan, Biprojeet Langthasa and Brojesh Tharsa, from unspecified locations in the city.

March 6: Suspected BW militants killed the parents of two of their former cadres, Gale Dimasa and Manjit Phonglo, in two separate incidents in the North Cachar Hills District. Both Gale and Manjit had reportedly deserted the outfit a week earlier. The first incident was reported at Jaramdisa Thaijuary under Doyangmukh Police Station where the BW cadres attacked the residence of Gale Dimasa and shot his parent dead. The second incident occurred in Prasadindik under Maibong Police Station where militants attacked the residence of Manjit and killed his parents.

February 27: A ‘sergeant major’ of the BW outfit, identified as Daupri Dimasa alias Profes Hojai, surrendered before the Army at Haflong in the North Cachar Hills District.

February 26: A Police officer was shot dead and a railway employee sustained injuries when a five-member team of the BW militants ambushed a Police patrol at Langting area under Maibong sub-division of North Cachar Hills District.

February 12: One DHD militant, identified as Lojendra Langthasa, was shot dead by militants of the rival BW fraction at Khalimindisa under Maibong Police Station of North Cachar Hills District.

The house of the BW faction ''commander'' Morung was ransacked by unidentified militants. Two persons were injured in the incident.

February 11: Militants belonging to the BW outfit shot dead a school teacher, Munit Bodo, at Maibong area in the North Cachar Hills District.

February 10: Telegraph reports that Ashok Saikia, proprietor of the Indian Oil Tanking Limited, said a militant group identifying itself as the DNLF claimed responsibility for the abduction of its four employees, who were engaged in the company's seismic survey operation in the North Cachar Hills District. The report adds that the leader of the new group identified himself as Bret Lee. The Police had initially suspected the involvement of the BW group in the abduction since the outfit had earlier targeted companies involved in development projects.

February 7: A Chennai-based undertaking, the Indian Oil Tanking Limited, temporarily suspended its seismic survey operations in the North Cachar Hills District following the reported abduction of its four surveyors by the suspected BW militants from the work site at Langting under Maibong Police Station in the evening of February 5.

February 6: The BW militants abducted four employees of a Chennai-based company, the Indian Oil Tanking Limited, engaged in a seismic survey, from their work site in Langting area under Maibong Police Station in the North Cachar Hills District. According to the North Cachar Hills District Police, "a group of eight to 10 armed militants in military fatigue went to the Langting work site of the Eagle Marketing Corporation and taken away the four surveyors". The abducted employees were identified as Suresh Kumar, Nitish Kumar, Mahinder and Sarthak.

January 26: A DHD cadre, identified as ‘lance corporal’ Zenga Dimasa, was shot dead by its rival BW outfit near Digandu under the Doyangmukh police station in the North Cachar Hills District. Another cadre, identified as ‘second lieutenant’ Manik Dimasa, was injured in the incident.

January 12: The Assam Government stated in the Legislative Assembly that eight militant groups, including the ULFA, KLNLF, Black Widow, AANLA, KRA, HuM, MULTA and HPC-D, are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that both the ULFA and NDFB are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad. He further said that in 2008, 124 militants belonging to various outfits were killed and over 1300 were arrested. The Security Forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades from the militants.

January 5: The Home Department said the State Government had pointed out to the Union Government that several outfits, including the ULFA, AANLA and Black Widow, were taking refuge in the camps of NSCN-IM and NSCN-K in the neighbouring State of Nagaland. While some senior ULFA cadres were carrying out their activities from NSCN-K camps, militants belonging to the other two outfits were being hosted by the NSCN-IM in its camps. "However, given that the government is in a ceasefire with the two Naga outfits, it is Delhi's responsibility to ensure that their camps are not misused," a source said.

January 4: Three bogies of a goods train coming from Badarpur to Lumding were derailed and around 40 metres of track damaged, when the suspected BW militants triggered a bomb blast on the railway track between Harangajao and Mailongdisa railway stations in the North Cachar Hills District. Train services in the Hill section were affected due to the blast.

2008

December 29: The bullet-ridden dead body of Nityalal Kemprai, an auto-rickshaw driver who was reportedly missing since December 27, was handed over to Haflong Police by troops of the Sikh Regiment. Nityalal was reportedly killed in an encounter with the Army at Govinbasti, 16 kilometres from Haflong in the North Cachar Hills District. The Army claimed that the slain youth was a cadre of the BW. A Chinese hand grenade, a rifle, a radio set and six rounds of live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

December 28: A BW militant, identified as ‘lance corporal’ Jon Sing Dimasa, was shot dead by Security Force personnel at a militant camp at Intangi under Kaladisha Kachari Basti in the North Cachar Hills District on Assam-Nagaland border. Troops seized an AK-47 assault rifle, some ammunition and a wireless set from the camp. The other militants, however, managed to escape into the adjoining dense forest.

December 25: A suspected militant belonging to an unidentified Naga group, identified as Diventho, was arrested from Manja in the Karbi Anglong District. Three 7.6mm pistols and six magazines were also recovered from his possession. According to sources, Diventho has been supplying arms to militant outfits like the KLNLF and BW.

A BW militant was shot dead by the Assam Rifles personnel at Khepre region in the Karbi Anglong District. An AK-series rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and a wireless set were recovered from the encounter site.

December 24: Shillong Times quoting a report published in Kathmandu Post, a leading daily of Nepal, reports that a team of Indian Army was currently in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu in search of Jewel Gorlosa, a leader of the BW, which is active in Assam. However, the Indian Embassy on December 24 denied the claims, the report added. According to the report published on December 17, there is information that Gorlosa had married a Nepali woman and has been staying as a hotel owner in Thamel or somewhere else in the Kathmandu.

December 11: BW militants stormed Haflong sub-jail near Haflong Police station in the North Cachar Hills District and freed three of their fellow militants, identified as Daku Dimasa, Daniel Dimasa and Nalo Dimasa. According to Police sources, "a group of about seven BW cadres threw grenades and fired at the jail at around 5.25 a.m. in the morning and then stormed the jail to take away their three members". The jailor Lunlet Lhoubum was arrested for interrogation.

November 20: The 17 J&K Regiment of Army and Assam Police, in a joint operation, neutralised a camp belonging to the BW outfit at Lankhowal village in the North Cachar Hills district.

November 13: The BW cadres have started attacking goods trains that goes though the NC Hills district, before the expiry of the ultimatum served on Union Government by the outfit to declare a cease-fire before November 15. Railway sources said that militants fired at a goods train in between Jatinga and Bajatar at around 2.10 pm, which damaged a portion of the engine. However, no one was injured in the incident. Running of trains in the area was suspended after the incident.

November 12: The Black Widow outfit threatened to impose a ban on the movement of goods trains through North Cachar Hills district from November 15, if the Union Government does not declare a cease-fire with the outfit by then. Dinab Dimasa, publicity secretary of BW told reporters that the outfit has taken this coercive step in protest against the "apparent vacillation" of the Centre in declaring the ceasefire. The outfit had declared a unilateral truce on March 25.

November 10: The Black Widow BW militants shot dead two Nepali speaking persons, identified as Dipak Chhetri and Tanka Chhetri at Kamala Tea Estate under Haflong police station in the North Cachar Hill district. The sources further confirmed that, the group of BW militants came to the tea estate and asked all the non-Assamese workers to stand in a queue and then opened indiscriminate fire. Two other persons, Ramu Sharma and Hari Chhetri were injured while others were managed to escape.

October 30: In a separate incident, BW militants killed at least seven police personnel at Langlai near Thujuari of North Cachar Hills district, reports Sentinel. Three militants were also killed in the retaliatory firing. Haflong police sources said that the BW militants opened fire on the police party who were carrying the body of a DHD leader, Naklai Dimasa, who was killed by the BW militants on October 29 from Haflong Civil Hospital to Diyongmukh after the post mortem. Out of the seven slain police personnel, four were constables in the 8th Battalion of Assam Police; two were from the District Armed Branch and one Home Guard. Meanwhile, Dinob Dimasa, spokesman of Black Widow, denied the outfit's involvement in the ambush.

October 29: A self-styled 'sergeant major' of the DHD, identified as Naikhlai Dimasa, was shot dead by the BW militants at his residence in Doyangbra of North Cachar Hills district.

October 22: In a statement, DHD has strongly condemned the serial killing, kidnapping of innocent women, civilian and DHD cadres by BW. The DHD also condemns attack on Ms Rantha Thaosen, wife of Srimongol Dimasa, at Maibang police station. The outfit further added that the Black Widow is a gang of killers not a revolutionary organization. Black Widow is fighting neither for the Dimasa people nor for the people of North Cachar Hills. The Black Widow and their conspirators had been planning to disturb the peace process started by DHD which was anti Dimasa, anti social and anti development.

September 16: Dilip Nunisa, the 'chairman' of the DHD, alleged that the Black Widow outfit was behind the September 14 and 16 explosions near the ASDC office. However, Dinar Dimasa, 'publicity secretary' of the BW, denied of the outfit's involvement.

September 14: Black Widow militants killed two persons in a hilly section between the Kalasang and Batsa areas under Maibong police station of North Cachar Hills district. The dead include a DHD militant, Dibakar Langthasa, and a civilian, identified as Subol Langthasa.

August 27: Around 30 NSCN-IM militants attacked a combined force of the NSCN-K and Black Widow (BW) militants between Jalukie and Phaijaing of Peren district in Nagaland. While the NSCN-IM sources said there was no casualty on their side, the rival group’s senior functionary, Singson Kuki, said two NSCN-IM cadres were injured. Police confirmed that there were no casualties.

August 17: One forest official, Sorvendra Johri, is killed and a school guard, Firoze Thausan, is injured during crossfire between cadres of the BW and DHD at Doyangmukh in the North Cachar Hills district.

July 9: Security Forces evict militants of the BW group while taking shelter along with the NSCN-K militants in camps at Athibung forest in the Peren district of Nagaland bordering Assam.

July 9: One Central Reserve Police Force trooper, Deepak Kumar Mandal, is killed and four others injured when the BW militants opened fire on them near Maibong in the North Cachar Hills district.

June 28: Mizoram Police arrests two Assam-based Black Widow (BW) militants and six BLFM militants when they recovered arms, including 17 AK-47 and 56 rifles, and INR 9,84,000 in cash from a truck at Buichali village, 30 kilometres west of capital Aizawl. Sources said the arms were purchased at Chiang Mai, an arms market along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The militant group is currently reported to be in Kathmandu to explore the possibility of buying arms from Nepal to south Assam.

May 27: Meghalaya Police said that BW militants have demanded huge amounts of ransom from several cement companies in the Jaintia Hills district.

May 19: BW lifted its ban on the work of the East-West railway corridor and gauge conversion projects in the North Cachar Hills district.

May 16: Three suspected BW militants shot dead the president of the apex body of Bete tribe in the North Cachar Hills, J T Roya Ngamlai, at his residence in the Phiangpui village in the North Cachar Hills district.

May 15: Suspected BW militants hijacked five cement-laden trucks and subsequently killed the five drivers and their five helpers near Krumgminglangsu village in the North Cachar Hills district.

BW militants fired on a two-coach patrol train between the Mupa and Kalachand stations in the North Cachar Hills district. The driver of the train, N.N. Bora, was killed while three others were injured in the incident.

May 12: Two persons were killed and another injured when suspected BW militants attacked railway workers engaged in a construction site at Migrendisa under Haflong police station in the North Cachar Hills district.

May 11: A group of 10 armed BW militants shot dead eight labourers engaged in the construction of a railway quarters at Thoibasti in the North Cachar Hills district.

May 10: 12 BW militants were killed and 18 others injured in a gun battle with the security forces in the North Cachar Hills district.

May 3: Army personnel arrested one Black Widow (BW) cadre and a suspected female militant when they neutralised a hideout of the outfit at Relai near Maibong in the North Cachar Hills district. The hideout had logistic support items, rations and many bunkers.

April 7: Border Security Force personnel shot dead an unidentified militant of the BW in an encounter in the Thajury area of the North Cachar Hills district.

March 24: The BW declares a unilateral cease-fire for a period of three months.

March 24: Three persons, including two railway employees Keshab Malakar and Masab Palai, were killed and two others wounded when the BW militants attacked Harangajao railway station in the North Cachar Hills district. Militants hurled two grenades and emptied at least 90 shells of AK-47 and INSAS rifle ammunition during the attack.

March 22: The 'deputy commander-in-chief' of the BW, Franky Dimasa, is arrested by the Guwahati Police from Fatasil Ambari area. He was arrested on the basis of the confessional statement of Daniel Garlosa, 'area commander' of the BW, who had been arrested on March 19 from the city where he had arrived from Dimapur in Nagaland travelling in the Brahmaputra Mail. Franky also reportedly arrived in the city by the same train along with Garlosa.

March 15: Two persons, identified as Lalmoia Hrangkhol and Jave Kamei hailing from the North Cachar Hills district of Assam, were arrested at Mawlai in the capital Shillong for having links with the BW militants. Police said an amount of INR 490,000 was also recovered from them.

March 13: Suspected BW militants abducted five persons, including three officials of a private construction company working on the North Cachar Hills stretch of the East-West corridor of the National Highways Authority of India.

March 9: Army neutralised a camp of the BW at Baladisa under Langting police station in the North Cachar Hills district and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the hideout.

February 24: One BW militant, identified as Pranjit Langthasa, was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Neonkro village near Harangajao in the North Cachar Hills district.

February 22: Five people, including three policemen, were injured in an attack by the BW militants in the North Cachar Hills district. The militants ambushed a convoy of police personnel near Hatikhali under Langting police station injuring three of them and two other passers-by.

February 19: Five employees of a private cement factory, Vinay Cements, were killed while another was injured in an attack by the BW militants in the North Cachar Hills district.

February 11: Four persons, including an Assam Police Battalion soldier, were killed and two more injured when BW militants ambushed a convoy of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd officials 20-km from Umrangsu in the North Cachar Hills district.

February 3: At least two persons were killed and three others injured by the suspected BW militants in Manderdisa village part II, under Lumding police station in the North Cachar Hills district.

January 31: Suspected BW militants shot dead Bikrom Khakra, a senior leader of the Autonomous State Demand Committee, after abducting him at Jirikinding bazaar in Hamren subdivision of Karbi Anglong district. Four other persons, identified as Pranab Bey Sarkar, Swapan Malakar, Sontosh Dam and Basa Timung, who were with Khakra, were also abducted. Militants severely assaulted Sarkar and Malakar and took Dam and Timung with them. Villagers later recovered Khakra's body and rescued Sarkar and Malakar.

January 14: Five persons, two security force personnel and three civilians were killed and another person was injured by the BW militants in Umrangsu town of the North Cachar Hills district.

2007

December 19: An unnamed senior police officer of the North Cachar Hills district revealed that at least 20 Black Widow (BW) militants are operating in the district to attack security force personnel engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the district. He said that the militants came from Nagaland to North Cachar Hills in Assam in September 2007.

December 18: Two Assam Police personnel, Mayaram Kalita and Royal K. Sangma, are killed and five others injured when a group of armed militants of the Black Widow (BW) attacked their camp at Phiding Railway Station under Mahur police station in the North Cachar Hill district. Around 30 militants attacked the camp from three sides, lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately which lasted for at least 30 minutes.

December 14: At least four labourers were shot dead by suspected BW militants at the Longpo area under Umrangshu police station in the North Cachar Hills district.

December 6: Two persons were wounded when the BW militants attacked Dipendu Langthasa and Nirmal Langthasa, sons of Congress party leader Govinda Langthasa, near Gurubari in the North Cachar Hills district. While the two brothers managed to escape the ambush, their driver and security guard sustained injuries.

November 27: Suspected BW militants shot dead 10 unidentified saw mill workers and injured eight others in two separate attacks at Bithorgaon under Umrangsho police station in the North Cachar Hills district. The militants set ablaze two saw mills and attacked the migrant labourers working there.

November 3: Suspected Black Widow militants shot dead Darbitham Hmar, a Congress Party candidate for the district council elections, two of his personal security officers and his driver in an ambush near Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district. Hmar is attacked when he is returning to Haflong from an election campaign in an interior village of his Lower Kharthong constituency.

November 2: Seven CRPF personnel are killed in an ambush carried out by the Black Widow militants at Theijuri in the North Cachar Hills district. Police sources said that a convoy of three vehicles, led by 50 CRPF Battalion Commandant, is ambushed by the militants while proceeding towards the district headquarters at Haflong from their Doyangmukh camp. The deceased are identified as Navin Chand, AD Verma, TN Tiwari, Anil Kumar, Prasanta Boro, SC Rod and RK Aisti. The militants also took away arms and ammunition of the killed CRPF personnel and escaped.

October 17: Assam Rifles personnel arrested one 'sector commander' of the Black Widow group, Probin Hajagar alias Rock Dimasa and his associate Purjun Phonglo, from Mahur-Halflong Road in the North Cachar Hills district. One AK-56 rifle along with 30 rounds of ammunition and some incriminating documents were recovered from their possession.

October 15: Meghalaya Police arrested eight Black Widow militants from several places in Shillong town. They were identified as Ram Chetri, Jitan Das, David, Vimal Hansay, Sanjib Joshi, Dharam Chinthong, Nelson Teron and Martin Star. INR 35,000, pistols and several ammunitions were recovered from their possession.

October 12: The NSCN-IM by virtue of its cordial relations with the Black Widow group has reportedly chosen Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district for extorting money. Sources revealed that the group has targeted an amount of INR 100 cores to be extorted from the hill district with the active cooperation of the BW outfit. Sources added that with a view to collect this money, a group of 12 sharp shooters of the outfit had already left for Haflong from Hebron camp in Dimapur. The group is expected to work in close collaboration with ‘Major’ Chimroy Foam, the Haflong based NSCN-IM leader and another Wilfredo, the ‘area commander’ of Mahaur.

October 4: Munna Khan, the driver of a Construction Company who was abducted by the Black Widow militants from Muktacherra in the Cachar district on September 28, returns to his residence at Koilapool. The whereabouts of the two other employees, Samiran Suklabaidya and Raju Khan, who were also abducted along with Munna are yet to be ascertained.

September 28: Three employees of Punj Lloyd, a New Delhi-based construction company, are abducted by Black Widow militants from Muktacherra in the Cachar district. Assam Police said that the three employees, Samiran Shuklabaidya, a supervisor, and drivers Raja Khan and Munna Khan, were taken into the nearby forest.

September 26: Suspected Black Widow cadres raid Kanjar Basti, largely inhabited by Bengali speaking persons, in the Karbi Anglong district. They reportedly set ablaze houses, shops and an auto rickshaw.

September 23: Two government officials and a rural development agency worker are abducted by Black Widow militants from the North Cachar Hills district.

August 23: Two unidentified militants of the Black Widow shot dead a school teacher, Mannan Hussain, at Dibara in the North Cachar Hills district.

August 23: Black Widow militants kill a cadre of the Nunisa faction of the DHD, identified as Lal Khelma, in an internecine clash at his residence near Umrangsu town in the North Cachar Hills district.

August 8: The Black Widow militants opened fire at a designated camp of the DHD in Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district.

August 7: Suspected Black Widow militants shot dead four civilians, identified as Ashok Das, Santosh Mahato, Manna Dey and Bidhu Das, at Harinagar market under Joypur police station in the Dibrugarh district. Sources said that about 10-12 militants came to the shop of Nipendra Chandra Das and started firing indiscriminately killing the four civilians.

August 3: Suspected militants of the Black Widow shot dead one civilian, Shikari Teron, at Kumilangtuk near Umrangso in the North Cachar Hills District.

July 24: Three unidentified members of the Black Widow group were killed in an internecine clash between rival groups of the DHD - Black Widow and the Nunisa faction, near a designated camp at Pathergaon under Diphu town in the Karbi Anglong district. Police also recovered remnants of RDX from the encounter site and accordingly stepped up vigilance in the southern districts after intelligence reports indicated possible attacks by a combined team of the Black Widow militants and the NSCN-IM during the Independence Day celebrations.

July 21: At least two militants of the Dilip Nunisa faction of the DHD, identified as Rocket Dimasa and Samir Khersa, are killed and another, Banesa Langthasa, sustained gunshot injuries when the rival BW faction cadres clashed with them at a jungle near Lallongcherra village in the Silchar district.

June 19: Nonphong, a 'corporal' of the Black Widow, was killed during clashes between the two factions of the outfit at Harangajao in the NC Hills district. Nonphong had deserted the Dilip Nunisa faction and joined the BW faction in 2006.

June 14: Security forces (SFs) arrested three BW militants, identified as Anglong Manin, Zintus Marak and Walsong Manglong, from Hotel Ambassador at Paltan Bazaar in Guwahati. One car and a motorcycle were also seized from them.

June 11: Four hardcore BW militants, ‘Lt. Corporal’ Pradesh Thaosen and his associates Manjit Langthasa, Piten Thaosen and Niben Langthasa, are arrested by the Assam Rifles personnel from Bhuban Pahar in the NC Hills district. They were reportedly involved in the June 4-killing of Purnendu Langthasa, Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, and his colleague Nindu Langthasa. Police also recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 56 rifle, two self-loading rifles, one rocket launcher and INR 80 lakhs from their hideout at Nayanpur in the same district.

June 4: BW militants killed former Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Purnendu Langthasa, and former executive member of the Council, Nindu Langthasa, at Langlai Hasnu village in the NC Hills district.

May 30: One BW cadre, identified as ‘Sergeant’ Gale, is killed in an encounter with the SFs at Hatikhali near Maibong area in the NC Hills district. The slain militant was leading a five-member team that tried to ambush a patrol squad along the Maibong-Diklem road. One AK-56 rifle, 100 live rounds of ammunition and three magazines were recovered from his possession.

Two bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from Lombapathar, under Kheroni police station in the Karbi Anglong district. One of them was identified as Dauthau Dimasa of the Black Widow group.

May 28: Mosorom Dimasa, a BW militant, is killed in an encounter with the SFs at Haflong in the North Cachar district. One 9-mm pistol was recovered from the slain militant.

May 25: One militant of the DHD, identified as Girifer Hojai alias Dimasa, is killed by militants of the Black Widow at Forest Bagan under Umrangshu Police Station in the Karbi Anglong district.

May 24: Rathu Bodusa, an 'area commander' of the DHD, is killed by suspected cadres of the rival Black Widow at Block Bazaar under Doyangbra police outpost in the Karbi Anglong district.

March 10: An 'area commander' of the Black Widow, identified as Chinese Dimasa, is arrested from a hideout on the outskirts of Maibong town in the NC Hills district. In a separate search operations, two militants of the same outfit are arrested from a hotel in Guwahati and seven others are arrested from Pura Basti near Mahur town in the North Cachar Hills district.

January 28: The cease-fire liaison office of the DHD is attacked by the rival Black Widow militants at Haflong in the NC Hills district and in the ensuing clash a Black Widow militant is killed.

January 27: The DHD leader, Dilip Nunisa, claims responsibility for the killings of 13 of their cadres who had deserted their camp at Dhansiri to join the rival Black Widow in Karbi Anglong on January 14.

January 3: At least 24 DHD cadres deserted the Nunisa faction's designated camp at Dihinga along the North Cachar Hills-Kari Anglong border in two batches to join the BW. They decamped with six self-loading rifles, an M-16 rifle and a few more arms along with a huge cache of ammunition. They are kept in the hideouts at Umrangshu, Mamboing and Maher in the North Cachar Hills.

2006

December 13: A DHD leader, Arnol Ponglu, is killed and two cadres are injured when BW militants attacked them at Umrangshu in the North Cachar Hills district. A junior engineer of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, Manilal Thousen, is also killed during the clash.

December 2: A DHD leader belonging to the Dilip Nunisa faction, 'lieutenant' Mazran Dimasa, is wounded when he is attacked by the BW militants at Maibong town in the North Cachar Hills district. Mazran's wife, Riya Maibongsa, and a civilian, Ananta Langthasa, are also wounded in the attack.

October 22: A CPI-ML leader, Lantuk Phangcho, is abducted by suspected BW militants from Umrangshu in the North Cachar Hills district.

October 7: Two civilians are killed and three others injured in crossfire during an encounter between security forces (SFs) and BW cadres at Mujam village under Kherni police station in the Karbi Anglong district. The SF personnel were carrying out a combing operation in the area following the October 6 attack on the Railway Protection Force in the adjoining North Cachar Hills district. Tools used for making arms, military fatigues and incriminating documents were found in a temporary camp of the Black Widow near the incident site.

October 6: At least 13 Railway Protection Force personnel are killed by in an ambush by the DHD militants belonging to the Black Widow faction in the North Cachar Hills district.

September 18: A DHD cadre belonging to its Black Widow faction, Ajit Hagjer, is arrested from Hotel Geetanjali at Panbazaar in the Guwahati city.

September 10: BW militants set ablaze two labour camps at different construction sites of the Northeast Frontier Railway’s broad gauge project in the NC Hills, as the companies involved in the project fail to pay ransom to the militants. Additional Superintendent of Police Bidyut Buragohain confirmed that two labour sheds at Asong Haju and Saron Basti under Mahur police station were set ablaze by at least 12 cadres of the outfit.

September 6: BW militants shot dead two cadres of the rival Dilip Nunisa faction at Langting under Maibong police station in the NC Hills district. One of the slain militants was identified as ‘lance corporal’ Lampthou Dimasa.

September 1: Militants of the Black Widow destroy an excavator worth INR 60 00, 000 used in a railway project to terrorize the contractors to meet the demand for ransom amount. The NSCN-IM is suspected to be conniving with the Black Widow to maintain its influence in the North Cachar Hills district. The railway construction work between Lumding and Silchar through North Cachar Hills is affected, as contractors decide to suspend construction work due to extortion threat by militant outfits.

August 20: An internecine clash among BW cadres occurs at Lanfer village under Kheroni police station in the Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong district, following the escape of five cadres of the outfit from its camp in North Cachar Hills.

August 7: Four persons are wounded in a grenade blast triggered by suspected BW militants at Mahur market in the North Cachar Hills district.

July 26: An unidentified BW militant triggers a grenade explosion, targeting paramilitary personnel, killing three civilians, including one female child, and injuring three others at Maibong railway station in the North Cachar Hills district.

July 3: A trader, Jagannath Prasad, is killed, and at least 18 persons are wounded in a grenade explosion triggered at a market place in Haflong town of NC Hills district. Subsequently, a caller, identifying himself as the ‘area commander’ of the BW claims responsibility for the grenade attack reportedly intended ‘to teach a lesson’ to the shop owner.

June 12: Three cadres of the Black Widow group, Shishuranjan Bar, Chandrakanta Naiding and Peikhuk Rangkhol, are arrested from a hotel at Bhangagarh in the Guwahati city of Kamrup district. Incriminating documents and INR 5,00,000 are seized from the arrested militants.

April 28: The 'deputy commander-in-chief' of the DHD, identified as Naizing Daulagapu, is shot at and wounded by suspected BW militants at Upper Dibbarai under Haflong police station in the North Cachar Hills district.

March 30: BW militants kill a worker engaged by a railway contractor and injure another at Retzole in the North Cachar Hills district. Seven rounds of empty cartridges of AK-47 assault rifles were recovered from the incident site.

2005

December 6: Two unidentified militants of the BW are killed at Retzol near Haflong in the NC Hills district.

April 21: Suspected BW militants kill a villager after setting fire to two houses in the Lanku Garu Basti area under Umrangshu police station of the North Cachar Hills district.

April 11: Black Widow cadres abduct Lakhyajoti Langthasa, an executive member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council.

2004

June 28: Jewel Garlossa, the ousted DHD 'Chief' in an interview to Sentinel terms the ‘takeover’ of the outfit by the ‘military wing’ chief Pranab Nunisa as a ‘gross violation of the cease-fire agreement.’

June 24: Pranab Nunisa becomes the president of the DHD. He ousts the former president Jewel Garlossa for anti-DHD activities.