NLFT forced to free Jamatiyas hostages

AGARTALA, February 8: The NLFT was forced to release the Jamatiya hostages last night with more tribal groups joining the revolt against the ultras. The insurgents freed 21 Jamatiya activists who were earlier kidnapped from Chhai Maroa hill village under Killa police station in South district's Udaipur sub-division. Vikram Bahadur Jamatiya and Haricharan Jamatiya, both chiefs of the community's apex social unit in a news conference at the Agartala Press Club yesterday announced that the Jamatiya hill tribesmen were ready for an "all out resistance against the NLFT excess in the state's hill areas". More tribal groups including the Reang, the Noatias, the Uchais and the Chakmas have extended support to the Jamatiya agitation against the NLFT. Vikram Bahadur Jamatiya said they were getting active cooperation from the state police in conducting an intensive search operation in the South district's hill areas for rescuing the hostages. Twenty-four Jamatiya community activists were picked up by NLFT ultras from Chhai Maroa village in South district's Killa area on 29 January apparently to put pressure on the tribal community's leadership to stop its anti-NLFT tirade. Subsequently three among the hostages, Milon Chandra Jamatiya, Rahim Chandra Jamatiya and Bipin Kumar Jamatiya were released by the militants who were asked to carry a threatening letter from the NLFT area chief. Jamatiya leaders ignored the threat and stepped up search operations to rescue the remaining hostages. Tension was mounting in parts of South Tripura with the Jamatiyas taking a war path against the ultras. Clashes between tribal groups forced the hill villagers to flee some of the areas in South district's Udaipur sub-division. NLFT militants had earlier kidnapped another community activist, Nanigopal Jamatiya from the Killa area on 22 January. He was also released by his captors on Monday. Vikram Bahadur Jamatiya told newsmen that his community's apex body, the council of the "Akras" (Jamatiya community leaders) had urged the Jamatiya members of the NLFT to desert the clandestine ranks immediately and join the democratic mainstream. In response to the call, 51 hardcore Jamatiya members have so far surrendered their arms before the authorities. Jamatiya expressed hope that more tribal youths would deserting the NLFT rank soon. He also "warned" the NLFT to stop conversion of the poor hill people at gun point immediately. Insurgents were also asked not to interfere with the religious and cultural activities of the members of the Jamatiya community identified with Hinduism. He pointed out that the hill villagers were forced by NLFT not to worship Hindu gods and goddesses in the state's hill areas. "It is only because of the Jamatiyas' organised resistance this time that the tribesmen could perform Saraswati puja in South Tripura's hill region," he said. He made it clear that his community would go a long way to fight the excess of the NLFT which is indulging in killing, abductions, terrorising and extortion in the state's hill areas. NLFT men were forcing hill villagers at gun point to embrace Christianity. "We must stop such rebel activities at any cost," the Jamatiya chief said. He also said that the "Garia" puja and festival would be organised in the hills this time ignoring the NLFT threat. The Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar, said here that his government would take firm steps against those who were indulging in forcible conversion in the state's hill areas. He said the authorities would provide all possible help to the Jamatiya community activists who were fighting against the NLFT menace.