AGARTALA, December 10 (TIWN): “We don’t have any information about the encounter in which eight militants were killed by the Bangladesh security force at Naraicherra close to Segunbagan in Chittagong Hill Track of Bangladesh on the December 1 last”, said B N Sharma, Inspector General Tripura Frontier BSF, here today.Talking to TIWN, B N Sharma, Inspector General Tripura Frontier BSF said that at present BSF is not aware of any information regarding the encounter. Only we can confirm that the Bangladesh security force is conducting operations in the Chittagong Hill Track of Bangladesh against the militants, he mentioned.Till now we did not get any information from the Bangladesh counterparts regarding the encounter, so we cannot confirm it now, he added. Earlier in a press conference B N Sharma, Inspector General Tripura Frontier BSF said around 32 militants camps still exist along the Indo-Bangladesh international border. Of the total 32 militant camps,exist, mostly belonging to banned outfits National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), IG of BSF said.A total of 64 Border Out Post (BOP) are present in the state. Out of the 64 Border Out Post (BOP) 22 BOP are in operation at present, he added. The remaining 42 BOPs will become operational soon, he added.

Most of these hideouts were concentrated at Chittagong Hill Track (CHT) in the neighboring country Bangladesh. The insurgents were using Tripura-Mizoram-Bangladesh tri-junction as corridor, security agencies including Assam Riffles and Tripura State Riffles (TSR) have been trying hard to stop infiltration of militants from across the border, the IG further mentioned.

The real cause for NLFT or any other Tripura insurgent group taking off big time is because of the zero tolerance of Hasina's government and the pressure exerted on the security forces in our neighbouring country by the political leadership to hit out at the rebels , be they from ethnic militant groups of India's Northeast or local Islamist radicals.  That is why the Islamist radicals are fleeing to West Bengal where they get all the sanctuary and support they need to thrive. Moment this pressure is gone, the NLFT will be able to revive itself again, he added.

BSF and district police administration were asked to maintain strict vigil along the border so that militants could not enter into the Indian soil, he added.

Tripura also shares 851-km-long border with Bangladesh which constitutes 85 per cent of its total border and out of the 851 km long border with Bangladesh 703 km fencing is already completed and 143 km are still unfenced due to various issues, he mentioned.