5 NLFT militants escape hostile conditions in Bangladesh to surrender in Tripura

Five cadres of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura NLFT (BM) group surrendered before the Tripura police in the state’s Dhalai district on Friday, a senior police official said on August 19. 

The operatives are said to have been training in the outlawed group's camp in Bangladesh and had escaped the camp to surrender, the police official said, adding that the five people contacted the Tripura Police upon crossing the India-Bangladesh border and surrendered. 

The five operatives have been identified as Kanta Mohan Tripura (45), Nakshatra Debbarma (32), Emang Debbarma (20), Getajoy Tripura (23) and Mansubar Tripura (25).

Five cadres of NLFT (BM) outfit surrendered before Tripura Police on 18.08.2023 and joined mainstream- leaving the path of violence behind.@tripura_cmo pic.twitter.com/MGzaoWQp5E

— Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police)

Speaking to PTI over the phone, Dhalai SP Avinesh Kumar Rai said the police received input that a group of NLFT militants based in Silacherri in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) deserted the camp due to the hostile conditions prevailing at the site and surrendered. "Intelligence agencies contacted them somewhere in Kanchanpur in north district, just before Independence Day celebrations." 

Subsequently, officials lost touch with the operatives for a while on account of poor mobile network. 

“Finally, they contacted us after crossing the Indo-Bangla border in Chawmanu area and surrendered at Chawmanu police station on Friday. They all were taken into custody for interrogation,” the SP said. “Although we could not thoroughly interrogate the surrendered militants to know the strength of the outfit, it appears 15-20 militants are in the hideout of Silacherri in Bangladesh,” Rai added.