3 NLFT ultras arrested in North Tripura, China-made pistol, Bangladesh currency seized

The arrest comes close in the heels of the arrest of two top NLFT-Biswamohan Debbarma (NLFT-BD) faction leaders, Utpal Debbarma and Sachin Debbarma

Within days of arresting two top National Liberation Front of Tripura’s (NLFT) – Biswamohan faction leaders, security forces, including the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and local police, arrested three high-ranking members of NLFT Parimal Debbarma group on Saturday.

The arrested leaders have been identified as Ganaramram Reang, alias Baileng, Rai Bahadur Reang and one Rai Taingha Reang who gave shelter to the apprehended NLFT leaders, North Tripura district SP, Bhanupada Chakraborty said.

Baileng is a dreaded insurgent and a self-styled major of NLFT’s Parimal Debbarma (PD) group. Rai Bahadur Reang is a relatively new recruit who joined the NLFT (PD) in July this year.

Based on specific inputs from the Special Branch and North Tripura district police, the security forces nabbed the militants in the early hours of Saturday from Khaslangpara in North Tripura.

Speaking to media, SP Chakraborty said, “We have recovered a factory-made Chinese pistol, three live bullets, three mobile phones, NLFT letterheads, extortion notices, Indian currency amounting to Rs 3360, and Bangladesh currency (Taka 679) from their possession.”

Preliminary investigation suggests that the arrested insurgents had crossed the international border from NLFT’s hideout at Jupui in Bangladesh. However, their specific motives remain unclear, and a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the truth.

The arrest comes close in the heels of the arrest of two top NLFT’s Biswamohan faction leaders, Utpal Debbarma (alias D. Omthai) and Sachin Debbarma. They were caught in Simna, West Tripura. These two insurgents are facing charges related to sedition, waging war against the Government of India, extortion, criminal intimidation, and violating provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). They have been remanded to judicial custody in connection with cases pending since 2020.

The NLFT was formed on March 12, 1989. Dhananjoy Reang was the chairman of the undivided NLFT. Now there are two factions – NLFT Biswamohan Debbarma (NLFT-BD) faction and the NLFT Parimal Debbarma (NLFT-PD) faction.

According to Tripura Police, NLFT-BD faction is the more active one.

In 2014, Parimal Debbarma had surrendered along with three others – Mohan Kumar Koloi, Dayananda Tripura, and Bibhas Tripura. But three years later, in 2014, he committed a murder at Takarjala police station and fled to Bangladesh, where he formed NLFT-PD.

Also Read: 4 Tripura cops injured in attack after cannabis plantation destroyed in West Tripura

COMMENTS