AGARTALA, Nov 15 (TIWN): Number of militants from the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) has allegedly entered Gandacherra sub division through the long unfenced border area ahead of civic polls to revive them and disrupt the elections procedure. According to sources, the extremists’ threat has started rising in the sector with incidents of kidnapping of workers for subscription. The banned outfit of NLFT has intruded in the area to disrupt the smooth conduct of the municipal elections.

A highly placed official source confirmed that Area commander of NLFT BM association members have intruded to the land and has started disrupting the smooth living of the locals of the area.  

BSF and district police administration were asked to maintain strict vigil along the border so that militants could not enter into the Indian soil, the source added. Tripura also shares 856-km-long border with Bangladesh which constitutes 85 per cent of its total border and some parts of the border areas are still unfenced. 

The locals have confirmed that members of NLFT BM association have intruded in the Indian soil from Bangladesh to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of the state.

However, the sources confirmed that the militants were seen with huge arms and weapons.

Police is continuing its interrogation to find out.

The present state of ethnicity and extremism in Tripura is a recent phenomenon; the state did not witness any major outbreak of communal riots or killings before 1980.

NLFT, which was formed in 1989 with a pledge to fight for a separate tribal homeland, became crippled after three of its factions surrendered under separate arrangements with the central government since year 2000. It’s banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967, and police had framed sedition and serious criminal charges against its top leaders and many cadres for unleashing bloody campaign against troops and non-tribal population. They ruled out possibility of any major bounty to the NLFT except a beneficial rehabilitation package to leaders and cadres mainly based in camps at Khagrachari district of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylet region of Bangladesh.