People's Democracy

  Extremists Kill 5 In Two Villages

ONCE again motivated by their deep despair and desperation, anti-national extremists of the outlaw NLFT carried out ghastly attacks on the villagers of two remote tribal hamlets on May 10. Both these neighbouring hamlets --- Jorendra Para and Madanjoy Para --- fall under the Raishyabari police station of Dhalai district.

The attacks claimed the life of 5 innocent villagers, all belonging to the Chakma tribal community, injured one and left at least 20 houses and a community hall burnt to ashes.

The location of the two villages is very close to the Indo-Bangladesh border and the task of barbed wire fencing is still to be completed here.

On that fateful day, 10 to 12 NLFT extremists and 7 or 8 accomplices came across from their camp in Bangladesh, divided themselves into two groups, and launched simultaneous attacks at Jorendra Para and Madanjoy Para, at 5.50 in the evening. They opened indiscriminate fire on screaming villagers, killing of 5 of the innocent villagers on the spot. The killers also arsoned 5 houses in Jorendra Para and 15 houses and a newly constructed community hall in Madanjoy Para.

Immediately after the operation, the extremists made good their escape to their Bangladesh camp before the security forces rushed to the spot. On their way back to their camp, they beat up a villager who had come across their way. Shortly after the incident, security forces from the BSF and policemen from Raishyabari began to put off the fire and help the injured.

Making a statement in the assembly on May 12, chief minister Manik Sarkar said the NLFT (BM) was running a camp at Laifung Tuicha of Mayani Reserve Forest inside Bangladesh, just opposite the villages attacked. He noted that the extremists had come from that camp and went back there after conducting the attack. The chief minister informed the house that he had instructed the district magistrate and collector of Dhalai district to render immediate relief to the victims. He also informed that most of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Raishyabari sector remains to be fenced. It was this lacuna the extremists utilised to come from across, hit and run away.

Through a statement, the Tripura Left Front Committee severely condemned this killing of innocent villagers and the arson of houses and a Community Hall. The Left Front demanded that the police must make all out attempts to nab the killers and their accomplices. The incident glaringly showed the urgent necessity of completing the construction of barbed wire fencing along the entire area bordering Bangladesh in order to save the life and property of villagers, the statement added. The Left Front demanded that the central government must complete the fencing work in the state at the earliest.  

The Left Front also urged the people of Tripura to voice protest against this attack on the innocent people and expressed deep sympathy towards the bereaved families. (INN)