Tripura tense, seeks more Central forces

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, APRIL. 14. As crucial elections to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) approach, Tripura militants have stepped up their activities of abduction and violent clashes which have whipped up ethnic tension in several parts of the State.

Alarmed at the worsening law and order situation in which the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) rebels appear to have a free run, the State Government has sought more forces from the Centre. The Governor, Prof. Siddheshwar Prasad, has sent a report to the Centre and sought deployment of additional para-military forces.

Well placed sources who spoke to The Hindu over telephone from Agartala today said arson and attacks on tribals and Bengali- dominated villages had been reported over the past three or four days, resulting in at least five deaths. The situation posed serious problems for the administration and the police as tension escalated in several areas of West Tripura, Dhalai and South Tripura.

Clashes between tribals and non-tribals rocked Chakbasta under the Jirania police station in West Tripura four days ago, injuring five persons. Angry tribals later went on the rampage and set about 50 houses on fire, leaving hundreds of non- tribals homeless. The ethnic clashes were sparked by a bomb attack on tribal students by United Bengali Liberation Front militants at Chakbasta on April 10.

The NLFT militants went on the offensive with a series of abductions of relatives of Left Front candidates recently. Over the past two days, four more relatives of the CPI and the CPI(M) were abducted by the NLFT militants. About half-a-dozen relatives of the Left Front candidates were also taken hostage by the rebels, demanding withdrawal of the Left Front candidates from the polls.

Clashes between tribals and non-tribals were also reported from the Sadar (East) subdivision which rendered more than 2,000 people homeless. Many tribals and non-tribals fled their homes, taking shelter in Tripura Engineering College relief camps.

The sources said administration officials, including the West Tripura District Magistrate, Mr. Manoj Kumar, were heckled by the tribals at the relief camps. Senior police officials, including the Inspector-General (Law and Order), Mr. K. Salim Ali, also visited riot-hit areas in a bid to prevent the disturbances spreading. Police have made a few arrests in connection with the clashes and imposed a curfew in the Jirania area, asking the security forces to maintain maximum vigil.

The ADC has nearly 70 per cent area under its control with the population comprising 77 per cent tribals and 23 per cent non- tribals. The Council has three general seats, while 25 are reserved for the tribals.

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