Tripura Govt draws up pro-active counter-insurgency strategy

AGARTALA, May 28 ? The Tripura government has planned a pro-active counter insurgency operation strategy against the underground outfits. The new anti-insurgency strategy was drawn in a series of high level meetings of the concerned police and security force officers with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday last. The new strategy ? mostly in regards to deployment, reinforcement and strengthening of intelligence networks ? was felt necessary as there are reports of possibility of the large-scale intrusion of heavily armed militants belonging to both All Tripura Tiger Force and National Liberation Front of Tripura ? both Biswamohan and Nayanbashi factions from Bangladesh. There are also reports that the militants despite their recent set-backs for internecine infights, desertion of hardcore cadres and shortage of ammunition, are contemplating major offensives in the near future. The underground organizations are also likely to reconsolidate themselves and intensify their activities before the Assembly elections slated for early next year. Sources said, according to intelligence reports the present Bangladesh government, though has not yet taken any flush-out campaign against the North East militants but it has been exerting pressure on them which resulted in shifting of their camps almost every alternative day. Now, it is highly likely that the heavily-armed extremists would attempt to cross over the border to intrude into Tripura. There are also reports that All Tripura Tiger Force is trying hard to regain its stronghold in Sidhai and Khowai areas in West district from its arch rival NLFT. They may also attempt to fan out in the ADC areas at Khumulawng about 25 km from Agartala which has of late become a haven of NLFT. In the backdrop of all these factors, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday ordered pro-active counter-insurgency operations throughout the State. The Chief Minister who held series of high-level meetings at various levels asked the police and security force officials to go all out against the militants before they consolidate strength before the elections. The first meeting with the Chief Minister was held with the top sleuths of the Special Branch and also CID, which was followed by thorough review of the West District situation. Then in the evening, the State-level Coordination Committee meeting was held where all the security forces including the Tripura State Rifles officers were present. Later at night another meeting was held with all district SPs. It is learnt that the Chief Minister felt that there were successes against the militants in recent time. Nevertheless, he stressed on the need of strategic deployment and reinforcement of the present security posts to launch a pro-active crackdown on the militants who are already holed up inside hat and who may attempt to intrude. The Special Branch sleuths were instructed to strengthen their network in the tribal and rural areas for actionable intelligence inputs. They were asked to strengthen their relations with the tribal villagers. The security forces deployed in the interiors tribal areas were also asked to maintain close relations with the villagers in order to achieve their confidence. Besides others, Chief Secretary V Thulasidas, DGP BL Vohra, and officers of all the security forces and SPs of the four districts and other police wings attended the meetings.