‘NLFT has 19 hideouts in Bangladesh’

AGARTALA: Justifying the demand of Rs 231.74 crore from14th Finance Commission (FC) beginning from 2015-16 for policing and security related expenditure, Tripura chief ministerManik Sarkar said the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) still has at least 19 hideouts in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Sarkar said NLFT is trying to recruit new cadres and extort money for its revival. The militants have become weak and cornered but they are not totally uprooted.

“I made it clear to 14th FC that insurgency in Tripura is contained but not eradicated though we have a remarkable success in dealing with militancy,” said Sarkar.

“NLFT is still active in a few locations of the state and they are trying to disrupt the barbed wire fencing on the 130-km long stretch in the south-eastern part along the Tripura-Bangladesh border,” added Sarkar. He however, pointed out that All Tripura Tiger Force militants do not have hideouts in Bangladesh.

Sarkar stated that the state’s security related expenditure has increased to 16 percent of the total committed expenditure and the figure continues to rise for maintaining peace and fight against the insurgents. He said the present government in Bangladesh has taken action against the northeast militants using its territory, but still there are few more camps of Tripura militants there.Source: TNN Nov 15, 2013, 02.22AM IST