Top NLFT leader shot dead

AGARTALA, Feb 10— Security forces shot dead a top guerrilla leader belonging to NLFT (Nayanbasi) faction yesterday. Self-styled ‘Major’ Benjamin Hrangkhal with his group was moving around Herma, Rongmala and Charilam areas in West Tripura district for quite sometime. On Saturday noon at around 1 pm CRPF personnel posted in Herma market got a tip off that Benjamin with his five followers were holed up in the house of one Ranjit Debbarma in the same village. The security personnel at once cordoned off the house and an encounter ensued. After the fierce shoot-out, CRPF recovered ‘Major’ Benjamin’s bullet-riddled body. (One .32 revolver and incriminating documents were found from his possession. The collaborator Ranjit Debbarma was arrested. The killing is viewed as a major achievement the slain militant was leading a strong group of 80 rebels. Major Benjamin was also third in the hierarchy after Joshua Debbarma and Nayanbasi Jamatia. Now the whole group will be in disarray’, said Additional SP (Rural) Arindam Nath.