Tripura Timeline - Year 2009

January 5

Two top commanders of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), identified as 'captain' Michael and 'lieutenant' Royal Debbarma, and their wives surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Jirania in the West Tripura District. Their children were with them at the time of surrender. Both the militants carried cash rewards of INR 2, 50, 000 each on their heads and had red corner notices issued against them by Interpol. Their wives, too, were cadres of the ATTF. "Our records say that they had perpetrated savageries on people by massacring 26 civilians at Kalyanpur in December 1996, 19 at Panchabati in November 1999, 21 at Simna Colony in May 2003 and 32 people in simultaneous attacks on Kamal Nagar and Bara Lunga villages under Teliamura subdivision in 2003 besides many others," said the Deputy Inspector General (Operations), Nepal Das. The political wing of the ATTF, Tripura Peoples Democratic Front, stated that Michael and Royal had surrendered with permission from the highest leadership of the outfit.

January 6

Addressing the Chief Ministers' conference on internal security in New Delhi, the Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said insurgent groups have been using Bangladesh as a safe haven to carry out militant activities in the Northeast. "We have been giving definite information about the existence of terror infrastructure in Bangladesh, details of cross border movement of these groups and their training with the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence]", said the Chief Minister. "Sealing of border effectively is of prime importance to prevent cross border movement of insurgents. Arrangements like flood lighting, speedy completion of barbed wire fencing and strengthening of BSF [Border Security Force] along the border should be accorded highest priority", he mentioned. "It is experienced that in few areas, the fencing could not be taken up due to trouble created by some groups having vested interests", he pointed out.

January 10

24 militants, including 22 National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) cadres and two ATTF cadres, surrendered before the Security Forces in West Tripura District after fleeing from their base camps in Bangladesh. While the NLFT militants surrendered to the commandant of 15th battalion of Assam Rifles at Hrangkhalpara, the ATTF militants surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Khowai. Police sources said that a food crisis in the Bangladesh camps and non-payment by the leaders of the militant outfits to the rank and file were the reasons behind the surrender. The NLFT cadres deposited three revolvers, two Chinese grenades, live cartridges and some documents of the outfit while the ATTF militants surrendered a Japanese wireless set.

January 11

Six NLFT cadres surrendered at the headquarters of Assam Rifles in the State capital Agartala. They deposited one SLR, two rifles and one revolver with live cartridges.

January 27

One BNCT militant, identified as Buddhajoy Tripura of Wakhirai Roajapara village, surrendered before the Additional Superintendent of Police at Thalcherra in the Dhalai District. He also deposited one .38 revolver and subscription notices of BNCT.

January 28

Three NLFT militants, including a woman activist, surrendered before the Police at Bhanderima near the Tripura-Mizoram border in the North District. According to Police sources, the surrendered militants were identified as Samendra Reang, Pranab Halam and his wife Jaranika Tripura.

January 30

The BSF foiled an attempt by a group of about 11 ATTF militants to infiltrate by arresting the leader of the intruding group, Amrit Debbarma, at Boro Bakhai area in the West District. Later the arrested militant was handed over to Champahawoa Police. The other militants in the group, however, managed to escape.

February 1

Two NLFT militants, Rambabu Reang and Nanturai Reang, were arrested by SF personnel from Balucherra in the Dhalai District. Two locally made guns were recovered from their possession.

February 10

The Officer-in-Charge of Champahower Police Station, Shyamal Debbarma, was injured at Tuibaklaipara village, 12 kilometres from the Police Station in the West District, when the ATTF militants opened fire at Police personnel who were returning from a search operation at Nandakumarpara and Tuibaklai Khowai area, reports Telegraph.

February 14

118 BNCT militants deserted their hideouts in Bangladesh and surrendered before the Police at Chawmanu Police Station in the Dhalai District. They also deposited a cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-56 rifle, nine pistols, two Self Loading Rifles and two grenades. The surrendered militants would be taken to Agartala for joint interrogation, Police sources said. Preliminary investigations revealed that the militants led by Pabanjoy Reang had deserted their hideouts in Bangladesh due to a serious shortage of food and basic amenities. The militants confessed before Police that they found it difficult to move freely in Bangladesh after the formation of the Awami League Government.

March 7

Two NLFT militants, identified as Malindra Tripura and Bidhyajoy Reang, surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Teliamura in the West District.

One self styled ‘sergeant’ of the ATTF, identified as Sushil Debbarma alias Ali, laid down his arms (one locally made revolver with live rounds) before the Police at Kalyanpur in the West District.

March 12

One ATTF militant, identified as Charan Thung Malsum (25) of Takarjala village near capital Agartala, surrendered before the Police at Balua village in the West District. According to Police sources, Charan escaped from Satchari ATTF camp in Bangladesh a couple days earlier. While surrendering he deposited one AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 74 rounds of AK series rifles, one wireless set and some Bangladeshi currency.

Replying to questions raised by the opposition Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said, that during the last three years as many as 871 militants belonging to the ATTF, NLFT and BNCT have surrendered. Out of the 871 who surrendered between 2006 and January 2009, only 367 deposited arms and ammunition, he added. The Chief Minister also said that approximately 180 to 200 NLFT and 80 to 90 ATTF militants are still underground. The reduction of militancy could very well be gauged from the fact that while in 2007 there 133 attacks, in 2008 it came down to 80, he added

March 14

Two ATTF militants, identified as Khudiram Debbarma (31) and Lokhendra Debbarma (29), surrendered before the BSF at Ambassa in the Dhalai District. They also deposited eight rounds of AK-47, two Nokia mobile sets and Bangladeshi currencies worth 883 Taka.

March 19

One ATTF militant, identified as Rupen Debbarma (40), who carried head money of INR 500000, surrendered before the Security Forces at Simna in the North District along with his wife.

April 2

The bomb squad personnel of Tripura Police recovered an IED from Amar area in the North District along the Tripura-Bangladesh border while a blast took place during BSF patrolling in the area. BSF sources said that militants of the ATTF, camping in Bangladesh, were suspected to be responsible for the blast. However there was no report of any casualty in the blast.

April 7

A joint team of the Tripura Police and Assam Rifles personnel recovered two locally-made guns and one pistol from two separate locations of the State and arrested a person for procuring the arms. Police sources added that during search operations in the house of one Chawbela Reang (35) in South District, a locally-made gun with four cartridges were recovered.

Assam Rifles personnel recovered a locally-made gun and a pistol from an abandoned place in the Kanchanpur area of North District, close to the Mizoram border.

April 18

Anurag, a class 5 student of the Shakaibari Holy Cross School in Dharmanagar and son of businessman Nirmal Jain, is kidnapped by unidentified militants from Dharmanagar town in the North District. Police sources said Anurag was waiting for his school bus outside the school at around 2pm (IST) when five unidentified militants riding three motorbikes arrived and kidnapped him.

May 3

One ATTF militant, identified as Dhirendra Debbarma (19), surrendered in front of the Border Security Force in Tripura. Police said Dhirendra, a resident of Salema in Dhalai District, surrendered along with one AK 66 rifle, three magazines and 68 bullets and 565 Bangladeshi currencies. Dhirendra revealed that he was forced to surrender because of a severe resource crisis in their base camps in Bangladesh.

Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, identified as Sitaram and C. D. Saha, were injured when NLFT militants ambushed a BSF patrol party at Simanapur area, about 78 kilometers from the Kanchanpur Police Station, in North Tripura District along the India-Bangladesh Border.

One NLFT militant, identified as Rajprasad Reang (22) alias Hizack, a resident of Shibdhan Para village under Ganganagar Police Station in Dhalai District, surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Ampi, Mayajay Rupani, along with ten live cartridges of AK series rifle. Police sources said Rajprasad was a self-styled 'corporal' of the NLFT.

Three militants of the ATTF and NLFT outfits surrendered before the SF personnel. Police sources said an unidentified NLFT militant surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Kakracharri in West Tripura District and deposited one Chinese grenade and few cartridges of AK series rifles. Another NLFT militant, identified as Siponjoy, surrendered before the Gandacherra Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) at Ratan Nagar in Dhalai District and deposited one locally-made gun and some Bangladeshi currency. In the third surrender, an ATTF militant, identified as Sanjoy, surrendered before the SDPO of Teliamura Sub-Division in West Tripura District.

A NLFT militant, Swary Debbarma (36) alias Sukram of Jirania area in capital Agartala, surrendered before the Tripura State Rifles along with one 7.62 SLR Magazine and 25 live rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

Assam Rifles personnel arrested three BLFM militants from Shantipur under Kandhanpur subdivision of North District. Assam Rifles sources said that the militants had surrendered before the Government earlier but later, again joined the BLFM and were extorting money on their behalf.

July 15

Police arrested seven militants of the Azad faction of the Manipur-based PULF, including a woman, from a motor stand in capital Agartala. "The seven militants of Azad fraction of PULF including their self-styled ‘Army chief’ Mohammad Abdur Rahaman (25) were detained from a motor stand in Agartala with some Bangladeshi mobile SIM cards and incriminating documents," said the Director General of Police Pranay Sahaya. "The rebels unsuccessfully tried to cross the border through Sonamura in western Tripura and then they returned to go to Bangladesh through another route," he added. The arrested militants were identified as Mohammad Abdur Rahman (25), Mohammad Firoz Khan alias Laskar (24), Mohammad Abdul Kasim (39), Mohammad Nazir Ahamed alias Tai Kunda (23), Mohammad Sanowar Ali (18), Mohammad Jamir (30) and Lufi. The seven militants later confessed that they were trained in Bangladesh by the Nagaland-based NSCN-IM outfit.

July 17

An ATTF militant, identified as Ratan Debbarma (34), surrendered before the 38^th battalion of Assam Rifles at Dhwajanagar camp in West Tripura District. During the surrender, he deposited 20 rounds of live cartridges of AK-47 rifle.

Four ATTF militants, including a woman cadre, surrendered before the BSF personnel at Daighyabari in West District.

A NLFT cadre surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Taidu in the South District.

Eight ATTF militants surrendered unconditionally and without arms before the BSF personnel at the BSF sector headquarters at Teliamura, about 45 kilometers from capital Agartala. Official sources said the cadres, recruited between 1998 and 2007, were staying at Satchhari, stated to be the ATTF headquarters in the Sylhet District of Bangladesh.

Nine ATTF militants, including four women, surrendered before the SFs in the Khowai town of West District after fleeing from their Satchari camp in the Sylhet District of Bangladesh. "The Bangladesh-trained militants led by their self-styled 'captain' Budha Debbarma (27) surrendered before BSF and Assam Rifles personnel," Police spokesman Nepal Das said. They also deposited a cache of arms and ammunition, including AK series rifles, one mortar and foreign made ammunition. With this latest surrender, 17 militants of the banned ATTF have surrendered their arms and ammunition during the past one week after deserting their camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. "We have managed to escape from our camps in Sylhet District after Bangladesh launched anti-insurgency operations in different parts of that country. Some more guerrillas may sneak into Tripura any time from across the border," Debbarma confessed before the BSF personnel.

Five NLFT militants were arrested by the Assam Rifles personnel from Khedacherra village, bordering West Mizoram, in North Tripura District. Three pistols, two rifles, ammunition and INR 17,000 in cash were recovered from the possession of the militants.

August 18

Five NLFT militants surrendered before the Assam Rifles officials in three separate incidents. Two unidentified NLFT militants surrendered at Malbasa under Amarpur sub-division in the South District. During interrogation, the duo confessed that they were involved in many extortion-related activities in the South District. They had joined the outfit in 2000 and undergone arms training at Bangladesh camps. In addition, two more NLFT militants, identified as Mukti Sadhan Jamatia (34) and Gokul Nanda Jamatia (29) of South Tripura, also surrendered. However, they did not deposit any arms. They confessed that they were involved in a number of crimes, including killings and kidnappings.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar asked the Union Government to enter into an extradition treaty with Bangladesh to get hold of the militants hiding in the neighbouring country. "I feel that the time is now ripe for entering into an extradition treaty with Bangladesh for which the Union Government may like to take necessary steps," Sarkar said, while addressing the Chief Ministers Conference on Internal Security in New Delhi. Stressing that Bangladesh continues to be a safe haven for militants active in India’s North East, he said Tripura was being used as a corridor for their movement. The State Government has been sharing information on the existence of terrorist camps in Bangladesh with the Centre, he said. Sarkar, who also hold the Home Minister’s portfolio, has demanded increasing of the strength of the Border Security Force for effective management of the 856-km long porous border with Bangladesh. "For effective guarding of the borders, there is a need to set up additional 40 border outposts in Tripura for which five additional battalions of BSF would be required," he added.

August 19

A combined team of the Police and the Border Security Force recovered a cache of arms and ammunition hidden by the NLFT militants in a hut from the Karangicherra area under Khowai subdivision of the West District, along the India-Bangladesh international border around 2am (IST). The recovered arms include eight AK-66 assault rifles, 23 magazines and 70 rounds of live cartridges. Police sources said interrogation of a number of surrendered militants over the past fortnight by intelligence wing officials of the Tripura Police resulted in this recovery.

The SF personnel arrested two BNCT militants, identified as Nicky Ram Reang (40) and Kashiram Reang (35), from the Hatimatha area under Gandacherra subdivision of North Tripura. One loaded country made gun and a sharp cutter were recovered from their possession.

Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) worth INR 350000 was seized and one person was arrested in the North District by the SF personnel. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Tripura Police and Assam Rifles intercepted a vehicle at Kanchanpur town and recovered the FICN in the denominations of INR 1000 and INR 500 and arrested the driver. On interrogation, the driver said a person gave a packet to him at Dharmanagar town to give it to a kerosene dealer. The dealer is absconding.

Four NLFT militants surrendered in three separate places in the Dhalai District. Sources said NLFT militant Birchandra Jamatia (36) of Kalyanpur in West District surrendered before the Deputy Police Superintendent at Raishyabari along with his wife Sampari Debbarma (20) and a three-month-old child. He also deposited some documents of the outfit.

Two more NLFT militants, identified as Dhancharai Reang (32) and Jitendra Tripura (30), surrendered before the Assam Rifles personnel in remote Chowmanu and Gandacherra areas under Dhalai District. They deposited ammunition of AK-series rifles, two Chinese grenades and a wireless set. "During the past three years alone nearly 500 NLFT rebels, including the top brass, have laid down arms and the remaining handful of rebels are also on the lookout for ways to leave the camps," Police officials said. Sources said the NLFT militants were facing serious crisis because of large-scale desertion and about 23 camps run by the NLFT in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh had been closed down.

The Police recovered three firearms from 16-year old Siva Das in the capital Agartala.

At least six militants, including a woman, surrendered before the SFs in two separate places in West District. Police sources said four ATTF militants managed to escape from their hideout in Bangladesh and surrendered before the 35^th Battalion of the Assam Rifles in Dhaighyabari under Sidhai Police Station in West District. The surrendered militants were identified as 'major' Janu Kumar Debbarma (35), Kamal Debbarma (30), Uttara Debbarma (27) and Samuel Debbarma (31). They deposited two wireless radio set during the surrender.

Two NLFT militants, identified as Karnajoy Reang (32) and Parajoy Reang, surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Mungaikami area of West District.

Police sources said two militants, identified as Annaram Reang and Ratanjoy Reang, surrendered at Chhamanu area in Dhalai District before the Assam Rifles personnel who were patrolling there. The surrendered militants deposited 500 Bangladeshi currency and some documents.

Two NLFT militants, identified as Gouranga Hari Jamatiya, a 'corporal' of the outfit, and Annababu Jamatiya, surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Gamaku Bari in South District. The duo also deposited a few live cartridges.

Two ATTF militants surrendered before the Assam Rifles personnel at Maharanipur village in the West District.

Six villagers were abducted by the NLFT militants when they were going to sell kerosene at Ratannagar village in the Dhalai District. They were identified as Jayantai Bikash Chakma (35), Jyoti Ranajan Chakma (32), Colony Mohan Chakma (35), Shanti Ranjan Chakma (37), Jnama Chandra Chakma (39 and Tanglong Chakma (32). However, three of them, Shanti Ranjan, Jnama Chandra and Tanglong, were subsequently released after giving a ransom of INR 56,000.

Five NSCN-IM cadres were arrested by the Border Security Force personnel when they were entering the country from Bangladesh crossing the north Tripura border, Police said. They were arrested at Satlang border outpost and revealed that they had gone to Sylhet District in Bangladesh for arms training. Some arms were also recovered from their possession.

The surrendered militants of the ATTF and the Tribal Liberation Army threatened to launch a 72-hour hunger strike from October 12 after they failed to get proper rehabilitation. Sailen Kumar Reang, General Secretary of the surrendered ATTF militants, and Padhya Debbarma, the TLA General Secretary, informed Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of their agitation plans to fulfil their demands. They also threatened that over 100 surrendered militants were fully prepared to carry on the hunger strike if the State Government doesn't take any meaningful steps to address their grievances. Both the factions of the surrendered militants have been demanding allotment of residential quarter at the new Kunjaban Township, an upmarket area in capital Agartala, and a stipend of INR 4000 per month until Government service is availed.

Two NLFT militants, identified as Dhananjoy Reang and Motaraham Reang, surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Hrankhawlpara in Dhalai District. During interrogation, the duo confessed they fled from their camp in the neighbouring Chittagong Hill Tract in Bangladesh as a food and economic crisis gripped the camp inmates due to non-payment by the outfit.

October 20

The NLFT served an extortion notice to railway employees in S. K. Para railway station of North District demanding INR 2000 from each of the employees by October 26, 2009.

November 1

The NLFT has started a fresh drive to recruit tribal youths to launch a new offensive in the run-up to the Autonomous District Council elections slated for April 2010. Sources in the Special Branch (intelligence wing) of Tripura Police said as the first step towards strengthening the outfit, it had recruited 40 tribal youths and sent them to the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh for training in guerrilla warfare, including the use of arms and explosives. Sources said that in the past one month, 40 tribal youths drawn from poor households in the Sadar, Khowai, Gandacherra, Amarpur and Kanchanpur subdivisions had crossed over to Chittagong Hill Tracts through the hilly and unfenced eastern border of Tripura in six groups. Utpal Debbarma, a tribal unemployed engineer who had passed out of the Tripura Engineering College and joined the NLFT after being persecuted by Police in 2001, was now leading the recruitment drive, sources said. The past few years have witnessed a decline in the militant activity in Tripura following a spate of surrenders, waning support among the indigenous tribals, inability to carry out major offensive and collect "tax" through extortion. On realising that growing marginalisation would cloud its future, the NLFT leadership, still in Bangladesh, has reportedly started the new recruitment drive.

The 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury and 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika of ULFA surrendered before the BSF personnel at Gokul Nagar BSF camp, 20 kilometres south of Agartala city, along the India-Bangladesh international border in the Tripura in the night.

Suspected NLFT militants, hiding across the India-Bangladesh international border, shot dead a farmer, identified as Dilu Telenga, in the Chunarghat area of Bangladesh. Police sources said Dilu Telenga, a resident of Narayanbasti area of Khowai Police Station in West District, had gone over to Bangladesh to tend his cattle. While he was returning home at 2pm (IST), suspected NLFT militants opened fire on him and he died on the spot.

Six NLFT militants surrendered along with a cache of arms and ammunitions in two separate incidents in Tripura during last 24 hours. Four NLFT militants, identified as Bidhanjoy Reang (28), Birendra Reang (24), Parendra Reang (24) and Jitendra Reang (22) of North District had surrendered along with four rounds of 7.62, some Bangladeshi currencies and one NLFT subscription book. During interrogation, they confessed that due to acute shortage of resources coupled with security threat from Bangladesh authority had forced them to flee from the hideout and compelled to surrender. Two NLFT militants, identified as Gounki Reang (19) and Rajesh Reang (20) of Kanchanpur, bordering Mizoram had surrendered before Assam Rifles in remote Chowmanu area and deposited one AK-47 and one AK-56 rifles, two AK magazines and 25 live rounds of AK series.

Militants of the NLFT shot dead eight Reang tribals of Kusharambai village in the North District in the night. Police sources said 10 NLFT militants surrendered before the SFs at Shantinagar under Kanchanpur subdivision and Ganganagar under Gandacherra subdivision in the afternoon of same day. The seven self-proclaimed NLFT militant who surrendered at Kanchanpur deposited a sophisticated INSAS rifle and 168 rounds of bullets and two magazines. In Gandacherra, three NLFT militants surrendered and deposited a Chinese hand grenade, bullets of AK-series rifles and "tax" receipts. However, a highly placed Police official in North Tripura said the seven who surrendered in Kanchanpur were not really NLFT militants. "These youths, all residents of Kusharambari village, had somehow overpowered a listed NLFT rebel Sadhan Jamatya (27), who had strayed into their area and seized his INSAS rifle and bullets. Jamatya managed to escape and inform his NLFT colleagues. The retaliatory attack followed at midnight," he said. Ten heavily armed NLFT militants stormed Kusharambai at midnight and rounded up eight tribals, all family members of the seven fake surrenderees, dragged them deep into the jungle near the village and shot them from point blank range. Three of those killed were women. The deceased have been identified as Tularam Reang (55), Sampaiti Reang (48), Bidhanshari Reang (17), Sanjit Reang (22), Rabindra Reang (21), Malirung Reang (50), Tamarung Reang (22), and Pramodrai Reang (55). Pramodrai Reang's wife, Gayalung (55), was injured.

Two of the Reang tribals abducted by the NLFT militants from Kusharambari in Kanchanpur subdivision in the night of November 9 are still missing. As reported earlier, the NLFT militants dragged out 12 Kusharambari villagers to a nearby forest in the midnight and shot dead eight of them. One woman was injured while another returned in the morning. Two tribals, Manikrai Reang (60) and Maitaram Reang (45), are still missing. Police sources in Kanchanpur said the NLFT 'commander' Suron Debbarma (32), who is hiding in a camp in Bangladesh across the border, half-a-kilometre from Kusharambari, had engineered the massacre.

A Bangladeshi national, identified as Dulal Mian (32), was arrested at the Kulubari area under Sonamura sub-division in the West District along with arms in the night. Dulal Mian, who is a resident of Deviduyar village of Comilla District in Bangladesh, had infiltrated into India and was living there since the past two years after marrying an Indian girl. An improvised pipe gun along with two rounds of 7.62 ammunition was recovered from his possession. During interrogation, Mian confessed that he travelled across the border frequently and had procured the arms from Bangladesh for different militant outfits active in India's northeast.

The NLFT militants abducted two businessmen, Shanajay Tripura (41) and Laxmi Charan Chakma (39) from Thalcherra market under Dharamanagar subdivision in North Tripura District, at gunpoint in the night. The abducted businessmen were believed to have been taken across the border to the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

At least 10 inmates of the Khakchang Reang refugee camp in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura were injured when a group of Unidentified Mizo militants invaded their dwellings and assaulted them in the morning. The attack comes at a time when the 35,000 Reang refugees stranded in six camps in Kanchanpur subdivision are hoping for early repatriation to Mizoram from where they had fled in October 1997 in the wake of attacks on them by the Mizos. The attack has led to fresh tension in the Reang-dominated villages dotting both sides of the border between Mizoram and Tripura. The Mizoram Government has placed all the border Police stations in Mamit, Kolosib and Aizawl Districts on an alert.

The NLFT claimed responsibility for killing eight Reang tribesmen in Kanchanpur on November 9 but denied any ethnic angle to the incident. In a statement, the NLFT stated that the killing of the family members of the youths involved in the incident was a fall out of the snatching of the INSAS rifle and some cash from one of their cadres. It claimed that the punishment was executed in accordance with their law. "The culprits were served instant notice to return the same for an amicable solution. But when no response came forward, the law took its own course," said the statement, adding that there was no ethnic bias as reported by the media.

Two ATTF militants, identified as 35-year old 'Second Lieutenant' Samparai Debbarma and Chamyjoy Tripura (35), surrendered along with their wives before the Tripura Police at capital Agartala. The militants had reportedly fled from the Satcharri base camp in Bangladesh.

A trooper of the Tripura State Rifles, Samarendra Debbarma (27), was shot dead and a Special Police Officer, Sushil Tripura (24), was wounded in an encounter with a group of NLFT militants at Dhumacherra in the Dhalai District. A contingent of Tripura State Rifles which was returning from a counter-insurgency operation in the Longterai valley was fired upon by the militants, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nepal Das, said.

Two NLFT militants, identified as Kantamoni Tripura and Kutal Tripura, surrendered before the SDPO of Ambassa, Pran Krishna Das, in the Dhalai District. They deposited one SLR and 120 rounds of bullets during the surrender.

December 2

Two unidentified NLFT militants surrendered before the Assam Rifles at Chhamanu in Dhalai District.

December 3

The ‘press secretary’ of the NLFT Tokyung Pha said that "contrary to reports in a section of the media, the NLFT president had never been detained in Bangladesh". "In fact, he does not live in Bangladesh any more," Pha, said in his statement. Indirectly confirming the NLFT’s ‘press secretary’s statement, Tripura Director-General of Police Pranay Sahay said, "It is not Biswamohan but Biswamoni who was picked up by the Bangladeshi Security Forces from Bandarban area in Chittagong Hill Tracts. We gather that Biswamoni along with another NLFT rebel, Parushuram Tripura who had been picked up a few months ago may be sent back soon."

December 5

The ban on the NLFT and ATTF was extended. The ban on the two outfits was enforced in 1997 at the peak of militancy in the State. The report adds that a notification of the Delhi High Court’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal in this regard was issued recently. The Tribunal comprised G. S. Sistani of Delhi High Court.

December 9

Tripura Government decides to provide ration and clothes to the newly displaced Reang families sheltered in refugee camps in Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura District. The report adds that violence erupted in Reang dominated villages of Mizoram after the killing of a Mizo youth on November 13 that resulted in fresh exodus from the neighbouring State. Around 2800 Reang people had to leave their homes in Mizoram following ethnic clashes in Mamit and its adjacent Districts recently and take shelter in different refugee camps in Kanchapur. In fact, they were denied of ration and cash doles as their names were not enlisted in the beneficiary lists.

Militant outfits in the Northeast— the Manipur People’s Liberation Front, NLFT, Tripura People’s Democratic Front, and anti-talk faction of the NDFB —said the people of the region engaged in "liberation struggle" felt "betrayed" by Bangladesh’s handing over of ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders to India.

The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, responding to a supplementary question on whether any leader of the NLFT was in custody in Bangladesh, said in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) that, "Thanks to the coordinated effort of the central government and the Tripura government, militant activities have by and large been contained. I don't think there is a threat from the NLFT or any other group." "Whether or not anyone is in custody, I do not know," he added.

December 12

Two NLFT cadres, Subhash Tripura and Romsrai Reang, surrender before the Assam Rifles personnel at Manikpur village in Longterai valley sub-division of Dhalai District. They deposit one revolver, one hand grenade and many live cartridges and one magazine.

A NLFT cadre, Piyajoy Tripura, surrenders before the Assam Rifles personnel at Dronakumarpara in Dhalai District. He has not deposited any arms or ammunition.

December 23

The Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Raman Srivastava announces that nine more border outposts (BOPs) would be set up besides relocating 17 BOPs along the 856-km-long India-Bangladesh border in Tripura to prevent Northeast insurgents from entering Indian territory from Bangladesh. According to him, the BSF is looking for new land near the Zero Line of the international border for setting up 26 BOPs for more stringent vigil along the India-Bangladesh border so that insurgents using the soil of the neighbouring country cannot infiltrate into Indian territory. At present, there are 245 BOPs along the Tripura border. Over 370 militants from two main insurgent groups – ATTF and NLFT- surrendered in 2009. According to Deputy Inspector General (Police Control) Nepal Das, interrogation of surrendered militants revealed that an "acute food crisis" was grappling militant camps and the insurgents "were not being paid money" that ultimately forced them to lay down arms.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar cites augmentation and modernisation of Security Forces, their deployment in strategic positions and barbed wire fencing along the long porous India-Bangladesh border as major factors for the success in the fight against insurgency. He also laudes the role of the Government in Bangladesh, which encircles the hilly State on three sides, in pushing out militants seeking refuge in its land that led to the arrest of several militants including top ULFA leaders Chitraban Hazarika and Sashadhar Chowdhury.

December 24

At least eight cadres belonging to Bishwamohan Debbarma faction of the NLFT, including women cadres from Assam, are arrested by a combined force of the Assam Rifles and Tripura Police during a search operation at Hamchapara area under Khedacherra Police Station in the North District. They are identified as Dobe Reang (27), Joy Mohan Reang (23), Swapna Reang (27) and Jamini Reang (25) of Assam, Ratanjoy Reang (24), Ubajoy Reang (20) and Tailoram Reang alias Khabel Thanga (30) of Mizoram. One improvised .22 pistol, one Chinese AK rifle, one Carbine, 10 live rounds of .22 carbine and two mobile sets with some Indian currency are recovered from their possession.

December 27

Two NLFT cadres surrender along with arms before the BSF at Khasiamangal in North District. They are identified as Tatin Mohan Tripura (30) and Bazimohan Tripura (26). They deposit two Chinese grenades, one Dager and some subscription pad of the Bishwamohan Debbarma faction of the NLFT during the time of their surrender. They confess in interrogation that they had joined in the NLFT in 2000 and they were involved in several crimes, including killing and abduction, when insurgency was in peak in the State.