Tripura CM for truce to end insurgency

SILCHAR, March 21: In a bid to pave the way for a dialogue with the insurgent groups, the Tripura government is considering a Nagaland-type ceasefire in the insurgency-ravaged state. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told The Telegraph today that the Centre should immediately take the initiative in this regard. Sarkar kicked off the CPM's campaign for the ensuing Assam Assembly polls at the Gandhi Park here. However, the Centre should ensure before announcing the truce that the rebels observe the ceasefire rules, he said. Proper ground rules should also be framed for monitoring the ceasefire, he added. The Chief Minister said the militant outfits are yet to send any feelers for a ceasefire or their readiness for talks. He said, "We belong to a government formed by a democratic party. We are always open for discussion." Sarkar said insurgency in Tripura is now on the wane as the tribals in the state have now realised that "the guerrilla forces are an obstacle for economic development." Sarkar accused the Centre of not co-operating with the state government in solving the insurgency problem. He demanded that the Centre should immediately deploy the three Army battalions which were taken out of the state during the Kargil War. Denying media reports on his government's difference in opinion with the Assam Rifles, Sarkar said the paramilitary outfit under the Union home ministry has done praiseworthy work in combating insurgency. The Chief Minister said the Tripura National Liberation Fro-nt has set up 31 training centres in its hideouts in Bangladesh. However, the Dhaka authorities are not keen on a crackdown even as the Centre had repeatedly urged them to take action, he added.