Two top NLFT men arrested by Tripura police soon after crossing border

AGARTALA: Tripura police on Friday night arrested two top banned militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) as soon as they entered into the state from their Bangladesh hideouts, police said here on Saturday.

AIGP (Law and Order) and Spokesperson of Tripura police Jyotishman Daschoudhury said, “The self-styled former army chief of NLFT Sachin Debbarma and former Secretary General of NLFT Utpal Debbarma have been arrested at night in West Tripura district. With these arrests Tripura police have so far arrested or surrendered 24 NLFT cadres and leaders so far this year.”

He said both of them were produced before the court seeking their police custody for interrogation as both of them were accused of large-scale killing, murder and mayhem of civilians and security personnel besides, extortion and abduction. The NLFT activities in the state have reduced to almost zero for the last few years but still a few of their cadres are still in hiding.

This operation is considered a significant success as an intensified operation against militant outfits by Tripura police. The two militants reportedly entered Tripura through the Simna area of Tripura-Bangladesh border on Friday night, and the input reached police intelligence immediately.

The police cordoned off the area, detaining the individuals within minutes of their entry. The arrested militants failed to maintain their secrecy and couldn’t spot their hiding den due to fog which eventually led to their capture, police claimed.

Sachin Debbarma, a resident of Sidhai in West Tripura while Utpal belongs to Champahawar area of Khowai district. They reportedly crossed the border due to shortage of resources in Bangladesh hideouts and had planned to surrender before the police after some days to get the rehabilitation benefits, police added.