Killing non-tribals evokes condemnation : Tripura bandh pralyses life

AGARTALA, Jan 15 — Normal life was paralyses as the dawn to dask Tripura bandh separately called by the ruling Left Front and Opposition Congress began this morning in protest against the killing of 16 persons by NLFT insurgents at Singicherra in West Tripura district, reports PTI. Meanwhile Tripura has been put on maximum alert in the wake of the killings and a Republic Day boycott call issued by insurgents, official sources said. All the police stations in the State have been directed to intensify security measures to prevent ultras from perpetrating any more strikes with the Republic Day drawing near, the sources said. Banned outfits, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have called for a boycott of Republic Day programmes, the sources said. The 840 km-long Indo-Bangla international border has been sealed and all the borer outposts have been put on maxium alert to foil insurgents attempt to infiltrate into the State, BSF sources said. Meanwhile, massive combing operation is on at Singhicherra village and its adjoining areas to flush out the ultras who fled the scene after the strike in which 12 persons including women and children were killed on the spot and four others succumbed to their inuries on way to hospital Sunday evening. The IG police (Law and Order) Selim Ali rushed to the spot and one column of Assam Rifles, one column of Tripura State Rifles and another column of CRPF are conducting search operaiton in the area.