Insurgency declining in Tripura

Agartala, Jun 12 (UNI) Militancy has shown a steady decline in Tripura as security forces continued to dominate disturbed areas, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

Replying to a query, Mr Sarkar said in the Assembly that in a total of 102 militancy related incidents in 2006, 27 people, including security personnel, were killed while the figure was reduced to 21 in 2007.

According to record, only three people were killed in militant attacks till May 31 this year. However, abduction of innocent villagers or government employees has increased from 43 in 2006 to 59 in 2007 and insurgent groups kidnapped only 22 civilians during the last five months.

In a separate reply, Mr Sarkar informed that altogether 550 insurgents of outlawed groups including National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have bid farewell to arms during the last three years.

He said of the total surrendered militants, altogether 391 militants were offered rehabilitation through various schemes and added that one more vocational training centre (VTC) for surrendered militants was opened up in South Tripura district and the number of VTCs had increased from three to four in the state.

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