Bangladesh helped fight Tripura militancy: Manik Sarkar

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has praised the present government in Bangladesh for its active role against Tripura militants who were using its territory.

But Sarkar said some Tripura militant camps still remained in remote areas of Bangladesh.

Sarkar's administration recently repealed the controversial Armed Force Special Power Act, which was there in the state for nearly two decades.

This act provides special powers for armed forces in their fight against militants.

“AFSPA was introduced in the state in February 1997 to curb militancy. After 18 years, our top officials have come to the conclusion that there is no need of the further continuation of the disturbed area under AFSPA. Accordingly our cabinet came to the unanimous conclusion not to further extend the AFSPA,” said Sarkar.

He added that along with the people of the state and the security forces, Bangladesh also played a vital role to help restore peace in Tripura and in its efforts to combat militancy. 

“The present Bangladesh government played a vital role in combating the Tripura militants who had camps in its territory. That was a great help to us," Sarkar said.

But the chief minister said the militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) still have around 15 to 16 camps across the border.

"A stretch of Tripura-Bangladesh border has not yet been fenced with barbed wire. That is the area being used by the extremists who have camps in Bangladesh."

Like many other rebel groups from the states of Northeast India, some groups like NLFT and ATTF had succeeded in setting bases in Chittagong Hill Tracts and the greater Sylhet region of Bangladesh during early 1990s.

They were allowed to continue their violent activities from these bases until Sheikh Hasina's government firmly cracked down on them after January 2009.