AGARTALA, May 26 ? Denying the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar?s peace call, the outlawed militant outfits of Tripura have intensified violence, which has shown a sharp rise in the State compared to the past two years.
The insurgency related incidents have already claimed 123 civil lives after Manik Sarkar-led fifth Left Front government assumed office for the second time in February last. Despite repeated calls, none of the militant outfits have shown any interest to come for a negotiation with the state or the central government. Even no political leaders came forward to hold peace talks between the state government and extremist outfits.Keeping eyes on the growing insurgency, the state government recommended to the union home ministry for extension of the ban order imposed on the two major militant outfits of the State All Tripura Tiger Force and the National Liberation Front of Twipra, State home department sources stated.
The ban first imposed in 1997 has been extended every year. According to official statistics 123 civilians were killed in the State during the first five months of this year, which was only 65 during the corresponding period last year and 144 in the whole of 2002.
One more notable change is the returning of the mass massacre to dominate the insurgency scenario of the state while the last two years most of the killings were selective or scattered. This year the State has already witnessed three major massacres in which 38 persons were killed. Incidents of kidnapping have also increased in a similar proportion.
Altogether 86 persons were kidnapped during the first five months of this year, which were only 56 during the corresponding period last year and 201 during the whole 2002. The number of incidents also increased similarly. The first five months of the current year has registered 166 incidents of insurgency related violence, which was only 85 during the corresponding period last year, and 201 during the whole of last year.