Mass surrender of NLFT and ATTF terms ‘fake’, evokes adverse reaction in Tripura

AGARTALA: Mass surrender of the last gang of banned militant outfits – NLFT and ATTF on Tuesday in Tripura triggered a serious reaction across the state, as barring a few of all 584 surrenderees are allegedly ‘fake’ and ‘arranged’ by a section of police officers for their vested interest.
According to sources in the state home department, the 168 firearms they deposited during surrender were arranged to demonstrate in the event in presence of Chief Minister.As many as 416 of 584 surrendered without arms. The so-called surrendered leaders announced that another 100 militants would surrender very soon.
“The security forces including Tripura police, BSF, and other agencies have repeatedly been claiming for the last five years that hardly less than a hundred cadres of the outfits remained with no resources and are fighting for their existence, how suddenly did the figure rise to such a level?” a senior officer questioned.
He mentioned that in the name of a peace agreement with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Tripura government, these eroded elements convinced the central government to a package of Rs 250 Cr. Further, the government has agreed to deposit Rs 4 lakh in the bank account of each surrendered militant, and the amount can be withdrawn only after three years by the beneficiaries.
Besides, each surrendered cadre would get Rs 6,000 per month for three years and these cadres would be given priority in various employment generation works. Both state and central governments have touted the surrender as the ‘end of militancy’ in Tripura.
However, it was a known fact that militancy had virtually ended in Tripura about 15 years ago –and Tripura Police had also got the President’s Colour for the remarkable success, said an intelligence official and added, “There were only 22 NLFT militants and two others had surrendered before and after getting a financial package went on hiding and are now surrendering again”.
He pointed out that there were hardly 17 ‘listed’ ones as their president Ranjit Debbarma himself was pushed back by Bangladesh and brought here by TSR from Meghalaya a few years ago. Released on bail he joined TIPRA Motha and is now an MLA. Where were these militants then?
NLFT and ATTF were responsible for hundreds of brutal genocides, selective killings, kidnappings, and all sorts of inhuman attacks and also made crores of rupees from ransom. Now they were brought back and rehabilitated at the cost of public money, but the families who fell victim to their attacks and atrocities have been striving hard for survival without any government support.