Assam militant outfit announces 6 months ceasefire

The announcement came exactly two weeks after DNLA allegedly killed five persons and injured one when they indiscriminately fired at a convoy of seven trucks and set them afire on August 26 at Diyungbra in Dima Hasao district

Published on: Sep 9, 2021, 08:58:44 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA), a militant outfit operating mostly in the hill district of Dima Hasao in Assam, has announced a unilateral ceasefire for six months.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the signing of the 'Karbi Peace Accord' with Indian and Assam government and five militant groups, in New Delhi on September 4. (ANI)

The announcement was made through a press release issued on September 7 by the outfit’s publicity secretary Mungsri Ringsmai Dimasa. It said that the move follows a call for peace by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“As a goodwill gesture and as positive response to the call of peace by chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, we the DNLA, are hereby declaring ‘unilateral ceasefire’ on September 7, 2021 for six months for creating an atmosphere for peace talks with the government of Assam and government of India,” the release said.

The announcement came exactly two weeks after the outfit allegedly killed five persons and injured one when they indiscriminately fired at a convoy of seven trucks and set them afire on August 26 at Diyungbra in Dima Hasao district.

Formed in April 2019, DNLA seeks an independent nation for the Dimasa community through an armed struggle. In recent months, members of the outfit have been killed in gun battle with security forces or have surrendered.

DNLA’s ceasefire announcement follows the Centre signing a tripartite peace deal with five militant outfits active in the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district of the state.

The Assam government is yet to respond to DNLA’s ceasefire announcement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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