HTF claims hand in blast, bandh continues

SILCHAR, Oct 29: Hill Tiger Force (HTF), a newly formed militant outfit of various non-Dimasa tribes, claimed responsibility of the bomb blast in the Silchar-bound Barak Valley Express on Wednesday at a place between Lower Haflong and Bagetor. Talking to The Sentinel, Kapche Zeme Naga, the self-styled chairman of the HTF threatened that if the government turns deaf ear to their demand for bifurcation of the Dima Hasao district, they would resort to further sabotage. Kapche added that their explosion on Wednesday was also in protest against the ongoing Jatinga Festival, which highlighted only the Dimasa community.
Meanwhile, a source in the intelligence said that the militants did not actually use IED as the intensity of the explosion was very low. Gelatine sticks were used in the blast. It is to be noted that local Hmar and Zeme Naga dwellers used gelatine stick to make explosion in the pond to catch fishes. Kapche, however, hinted that they had used IED to blast the bomb.
On the other hand, without naming Dilip Nunisa faction of the DHD, the Jewel Garlosa group of the DHD hinted that the blast was actually executed by those who had called an indefinite strike. It is to be noted that Nunisa faction had called an indefinite strike on Wednesday, which they temporarily withdrew, in protest against police excess against their cadre. Haflong police, however believed that Nunisa faction had no hand in the blast.
Meanwhile, a major part of the hill district including the headquarters Haflong was under the grip of another bandh today, this time called by Indigenous Students’ Forum in protest against Wednesday’s blast. However the 24-hour bandh had virtually no impact in Maibong and other Dimasa dominated areas.
In the meantime, Dilip Nunisa faction of DHD after an emergent meeting decided to call off their indefinite bandh of the district from Saturday in view of the ongoing school examinations and the assurance of the district administration to look into their demands. This was stated by Rengbor Dimasa, publicity secretary of the outfit.(The Sentinel)