From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: In a new twist to the insurgency in Tripura, two major insurgent groups- National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force of Tripura (ATTF) have decided to carry forward their arms struggle jointly.
In fact, the ATTF will work under the banner of NLFT abolishing their separate entity if intelligence inputs are believed. DGP K. Saleem Ali on Saturday confirmed the new adjustment between two major outfits- NLFT and ATTF. “ We have got information that the NLFT had taken over the charge of the another outfit= ATTF)”, he said. However, the top cop did not spell out much on the ‘new adjustment’.
According to sources, the ATTF has suffered serious jolt after a major group challenged their self-styled supreme Ranjit Debbarma early this year. Besides, Tripura government’s offensive against the militancy and diplomatic pressure on Dhaka worked a lot to weaken the militants sheltered in Bangladesh. Facing existence problem, the ATTF president might have sought help from NLFT that had resulted in a patch up between two rival groups- NLFT and ATTF.
On the abduction incidents, DGP said the militants are using unmanned and unfenced Indo-Bangla border to keep hostage innocent people.
Referring to the recent abduction of six tribal villages from South Tripura’s Nutun Bazar area, the DGP said there has been eight km gap along the Indo-Bangla border. “Militants entered into the Indian soil and kidnapped the six villagers at gun point”, he said.
Asserting that extra forces would be mobilized to maintain strict vigil along the unmanned-unfenced border, Ali said that border fencing would be expedited to ensure full-proof security along the border.
The DGP said that BSF authority was requested to seek its Bangladesh counterpart- Bangladesh Border Guards (BBG) to rescue the eight kidnapped villagers as they had been confined in Bangladesh.