Bangladesh acting against northeastern terrorists: Tripura chief minister

AGARTALA - Bangladesh has been taking action against terrorists from India’s northeast, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here Thursday, a day after top ULFA leader Ababinda Rajkhowa was reported to have been taken into custody there.

“Setting their base in Bangladesh, the outlawed guerrillas continue to carry out violent attacks in northeastern India. In view of the Bangladesh government operation, the strength of the northeast militants has been gradually reducing,” Sarkar told reporters.

“A large number of ultras have surrendered to the government this year and no youths are willing to join militancy nowadays.”

To a question about arrest or detention of self-styled United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) supremo Biswamohan Debbarma by Bangladeshi security forces, Sarkar said Tripura police have been looking into the matter and collecting information.

“We have no official confirmation yet about the arrest of the two top insurgent leaders,” Sarkar added.

Sarkar, who holds the home portfolio, said: “Tripura is the first Indian state which had provided the details (to Dhaka through New Delhi) about the northeast insurgents taking shelter in Bangladesh.”

Meanwhile, the Tripura government has asked the central intelligence agencies to confirm media reports from Dhaka about the arrest of wanted northeast India terrorist leader in Bangladesh.

Director General of Tripura Police Pranay Sahaya told IANS: “We have asked the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and IB (Intelligence Bureau) to verify the media reports about the detention of NLFT chief Biswamohan Debbarma by the Bangladeshi security forces.”

“Following the request of the Tripura police and the union home ministry, a ‘Red Corner’ notice was earlier issued by the Interpol to arrest Debbarma, 43, a politician turned militant leader.”

“We are awaiting the reports and confirmation from the central intelligence agencies,” the Tripura Police chief said.

Debbarma, who had been leading the NLFT for the past two decades, was wanted by the Indian security agencies in connection with cases relating to violence, murder, kidnapping, use of arms and explosives. He was also carrying a reward of Rs.400,000 besides an Interpol arrest warrant.

The NLFT is a banned rebel group fighting for an independent tribal homeland and operates out of Bangladesh.

Quoting intelligence agencies, a section of national television channels and leading Tripura newspapers, including ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) mouthpiece Daily Desher Katha, have reported that Debbarma was arrested by Bangladeshi security forces at Bandarban in southeastern Bangladesh Saturday.

According to Sahaya, over 340 tribal guerrillas of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and NLFT, including some carrying cash rewards and with Interpol arrest warrants against them, have fled from their Bangladeshi camps and surrendered to Indian security forces this year.