Agartala, June 22: Activists of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (Biswamohan faction) have intensified activities in Gandacherra subdivision of South district. A group of rebels has reportedly driven out over 1,200 tribals from five villages for refusing to pay “tax” and to prevent police from gathering information from them.
Official sources said on June 12, a team of Tripura State Rifles jawans had fought an hourlong gunbattle with NLFT militants in the jungle near the Kalajhari village. Two rebels were injured but managed to flee with the rest of the gang. Villagers later told the police that one of the injured militants died on June 15.
Realising that the tribals were passing on information about their presence to the police, 40 NLFT militants raided Kalajhari, Kinaram, Prabhurampara, Matrdhanpara and Amulyapara villages in the Kalajhari hill ranges and launched an attack on the villagers. They then issued a diktat, ordering the villagers to vacate their houses and shift to Ram Nagar near Gandacherra subdivisional town. Receiving information about the incident, sub-divisional officer of Gandacherra C.K. Debbarma visited Ram Nagar and promised the refugees tins and polythene sheets.
He also agreed to arrange for wells to be dug under poverty alleviation schemes to provide them with potable water.
The SDO promised that as primary relief, Rs 2 lakh would be sanctioned for the tribals from the Dumbur Nagar block.
Sources said the displaced tribals, all of whom are shifting cultivators, are finding it difficult to adjust to the new conditions. They are, therefore, passing days in abject poverty and ill health. The sources added that enteric diseases had already broken out in the area where the tribals have taken shelter.
A medical team from Gandacherra visited the spot yesterday and provided the afflicted tribals with medicine.
The sources, however, added that unless regular health services were introduced, the tribals would fall prey to different kinds of enteric diseases and malaria.