Tripura: 584 extremists surrender arms, embrace mainstream

In Tripura, 584 extremists of two outfits, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) on Tuesday surrendered a huge number of arms and ammunition and returned to the mainstream of life by shunning the path violence. A ceremony to join the mainstream took place at Jampuijala under Sepahijala district in the presence of Tripura. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, state chief secretary JK Sinha, Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan, and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
Speaking during the programme, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said that joining mainstream by the members of extremist groups will give impetus for development and strengthen the state. He said a total of 12 pacts have been signed with several outfits from the northeastern states with the Central Government, of which three agreements were signed with Tripura alone. He said these agreements have helped in bringing peace to the region.Declaring that Tripura now becomes a fully insurgency-free state, CM Saha said the Centre and the state government by giving priority for the all-round development and welfare of the tribals have undertaken various schemes and projects. “Those youths who were outlawed before Tuesday’s surrender and led a troubling life for several years, I welcome them in the mainstream of life,” said CM Saha, who also holds the Home Department portfolio.
NLFT President Biswamohan Debbarma said that they are happy after returning to the mainstream.“After seven months of hectic discussions we have decided to surrender to the government. More of our cadres would come to the mainstream in the coming months,” the NLFT supremo said.Another NLFT leader Prasenjit Debbarma said that some cadres of their outfit were still in Bangladesh and due to turmoil in the neighbouring country there was a communication gap with them.The militants of both the outfits have deposited 168 arms, including many sophisticated weapons and a large cache of different types of ammunition. A tripartite peace accord had been signed among the central government, Tripura government, NLFT, and ATTF under the aegis of the Union Home Ministry at a ceremony in New Delhi presided over by the Home Minister Amit Shah on the 4th of September.