AGARTALA, July 27 (TIWN): In a bid to overcome from the insurgencies here in Tripura bordering areas the state government had started holding peace talks with the banned NLFT militant outfits, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. He said that the insurgents are keen to shun violence and want to return back to their normal life. “We have also asked the Bangladesh Government to demolish all the militant hideouts in their soil.”

“At present there are more 16 hideouts in Bangladesh soil and they are on a spree recruiting new youths and extorting money for revival,” Sarkar said addressing a public gathering recently.

NLFT activities had still a concern for the state despite peace restored. He said that for the past five years the Ministry of Home Affairs had held a meeting with the NLFT militants twice at Shillong and another at Delhi. “The militants are now keen to shun violence and wants to return back to their normal life after several persuasions by the government,” Sarkar said.

“The insurgent activities had declined now here in Tripura bordering areas but there are still some hideouts on Bangladesh soil,” adding Sarkar said, “We have already asked the Bangladesh government to demolish the rest of the hideouts in their soil.”

The Bangladesh government was also asked to freeze the bank accounts of hose militants who are still using the Bangladesh soil and eyeing forward to enter Tripura.

"Militants have become weak and cornered, and the people of Tripura have isolated them but they are not totally uprooted," Mr Sarkar said.

Besides, claiming that the people of Tripura has not yet got respite from the turmoil Sarkar said the role of the tribal based political parties is not only to take up slogan for the development of the tribal people of the state but also must think for the development oof every section of people.

In the recent past Sarkar said that the primary reason for sustenance of insurgency in North Eastern states is underdevelopment and backwardness. He said there was hardly any attention to develop this region during the British rule. Regrettably, the attitude of Union Government in the last 68 years of Independence has also not been very encouraging.

Sarkar emphasised the North Eastern states' crucial needs entailed strengthening border surveillance, continuation of central funds, assistance to infrastructure projects, support to strengthen and modernise police forces among others.

The central government has a scheme for the surrender and rehabilitation of militants from the northeastern region since 1998.