AGARTALA, July 12 (TIWN): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday had sought Centre’s intervention towards destroying all the hideouts of the militants in the neighbouring country Bangladesh fully as part of overall strategy for tackling insurgency.The reiterated demand has come up on Saturday during the jumbo meeting at Guwahati chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the first time. All the chief ministers of eight northeastern states remained present.Sarkar said, “Insurgent Groups belonging to NLFT continue to take shelter in 16 camps across border out of which three camps are in close vicinity of the international border and these are being used to target bordering areas.”As per available intelligence, the existing strength of the NLFT is 88 having an estimated holding of about 100 weapons which includes A K Series, LMG, MMG, Rocket Launcher, etc., Sarkar said.“The safe haven of the top militant leaders should be cleared and the blank accounts of top leadership should be frozen,” Sarkar expressed concern during the meeting.Sarkar in his speech during the meeting also mentioned that despite the ongoing peace process, the militants have been constantly trying to revive and rejuvenate their shattered organisations.They have also been trying to induct new youths and continue their extortion as well as illegal activities, Sarkar added.Demanding for a strategic role of the central government Sarkar on Saturday said, “The continued presence of extremists’ hideouts across the border is a major source of threat to peace and tranquillity in the northeastern states.”

Adding to that he said that the state government here has always encouraged peaceful solution to the extremist problem and at the initiative of the central government the Tripura Government has engaged NLFT in a tripartite peace talks.

It is worthy to mention here that so far two rounds of discussions have been held.

Sarkar highlighting the extremist related incidents in the last 10 years here in Tripura said that during the 2014 a total of 19 incidents related to extremists took place out of which 1 civilian was killed, 2 security personnel were killed, 8 persons were kidnapped and 8 extremist incident took place whereas, in the 2015 as of now no such incidents were reported.

During the year 2013 16 such incidents occurred here in the bordering areas and during the year 2012 35 incidents related to extremist crimes took place.

Sarkar also pointed out that at present there is no hideout of insurgents in the state as the insurgent groups have suffered considerable depletion in strength.

Some of the major leaders of NLFT have surrendered to the government in the recent past. However, there is no room for complacency and the state police is keeping a close watch on the situation, Sarkar mentioned.