Agartala, Dec. 9: Dissension within the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) has intensified with a section of militants beginning to give vent to their frustration by targeting their leaders. A 24-member group shot dead as many as 12 NLFT commanders at Jupui in the Sajek range of Bangladesh?s Chittagong Hill Tracts on November 21 and sneaked into South Tripura.
Two of the militants, identified as Sanjib Reang and Jibon Reang, surrendered at Belonia police station last month.
They deposited an AK-47 rifle, an M-16 assault rifle, a 9mm pistol and a huge quantity of ammunition.
The rest of the group has reportedly sent feelers to the police about their willingness to surrender.
Director-general of police G.M. Srivastava was not available for comment, but South Tripura superintendent of police R. Kambli confirmed that the militants wanted to lay down arms.
Intelligence agencies said most NLFT members were disillusioned with the hard life in the jungles, while their leaders enjoyed various comforts in Chittagong and Dhaka.
?Ground-level cadre do not even have enough to eat and complaints invite punishment. Apart from this, most of the NLFT members have realised the futility of insurgency and that the goal of a ?free Tripura? is a mirage,? an official said.
Over the past year, tension has increased in the Jupui hideout of the NLFT because of the leadership?s treatment of women members of the banned outfit.
Middle-ranking commanders stand accused of raping at least five women members from Kanchanpur, Dashda and Karamcherra areas of North Tripura and Dhalai districts.
On November 21, a group of NLFT members protested against the harassment of women, but were silenced with threats of punishment.
That very night, they opened fire on the unsuspecting commanders, killing 12 of them.
Two of those killed were women leaders of the militant outfit.