ULFA, NSCN (I-M) provide support to Tripura militants: DGP

Agartala, Dec 2 (UNI) The ULFA and NSCN (I-M) were providing logistic support to banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) outfits, while the Bangladesh authorities have continued its support to the militants of the region, Tripura police Director General K T D Singh has said.

Addressing the media here yesterday, Mr Singh disclosed that despite operations against the ultras, militancy had shown a marginal increase in this year but the loss of lives was reduced to 19, including seven security personnel, which was 27, including 14 paramilitary personnel last year.

''There is a political change in Bangladesh but nothing has changed in the operational procedure of the Indian militants in that country and as many as 30 hideouts of the anti-Indian militants are still present in Bangladesh soil,'' Mr Singh said.

Expressing satisfaction over the improvement of general law and order situation in the state, he said the efforts and success of Tripura police in handling militancy was appreciated in the annual DGP conference in New Delhi last month, which had boosted up the morale of the force.

In regard to the anti-insurgency strategies, Mr Singh revealed that 20 hardcore militants had been killed and 172 arrested during ten encounters with the outlawed outfits of the state, while 227 militants had laid down 70 sophisticated arms to police this year so far, which was also higher than the previous year.

UNI