Four top commanders of banned outfit surrender after release of abducted workers

Agartala: Hours after three abducted workers released by the outfit returned home, four commanders of the banned insurgent group National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) Biswa Mohan group surrendered with arms before the Tripura police, Director General of Police (DGP) VS Yadav said on Thursday.

Adressing a press conference, Yadav said the outfit is suffering from acute financial crisis and shortage of cadres following which four out of top ten commanders laid down arms before the state police.

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“This is a big blow to the insurgent groups that are trying to revive. The extremist leaders during field experience have realized that their so called fight for the independence of Tripura is a farce and has no future. Due to continuous pressure from Tripura police, they were forced to return to the mainstream,” Yadav said.

Returnees from the NLFT-BM group include their ‘foreign secretary’ Rathan Kalai alias Reuben, ‘assistant organizing secretary’ Joy Sadhan alias Jara, ‘assistant public and information secretary’ Madhu Ranjan Noatia alias Yafung and ‘deputy chief of army staff’ Kukila Tripura alias Yarung.

“During preliminary interrogation, it has been revealed that from November 2018 to January 2019, total 17 leaders/cadres, including these surrenderees of NLFT (BM), underwent special training at KYKL (Kanglei Yowl Kanna Lup) camp located at Tagga Myanmar, along with other North-East extremists,” a statement issued by the Tripura police said.

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The returnees have laid down two AK-56, one Bayonet, four AK magazines, 119 live ammunitions, a wireless handset and cash 1.5 lakh Kyat (Myanmar currency) in front of the media in police headquarters.

Yadav said the banned outfit is headquartered in Bangladesh and they are facing a huge financial crisis and shortage of cadre strength.

“The ultras are trying to revive the group and recruit more cadres. We have arrested two such youths from Chawmanu in Dhalai district,” Yadav said.

He so said the youths are being lured to join the banned outfits in return of financial assistance and due to unemployment in the hills.

Also Read: Tripura: Three held for abducting workers from Indo-Bangladesh border

“I urge the youth of the state to not fall prey to the inducements of the banned groups and instead try for government jobs and entrepreneurship in state,” Yadav said.

A team of ‘Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal’ of the Home Ministry had visited Tripura in February this year to record evidence against two outlawed insurgent outfits. The Home Ministry had imposed a fresh ban of five years on the NLFT and ATTF on October 3, 2018 for their violent and subversive activities.