Ranjit Debbarma, chief of the outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force , has been detained by the Tripura government under the National Security Act (NSA). He was arrested on January 22 at Sidhai area near here after he was reportedly pushed back by the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB).
“The West Tripura district magistrate on Thursday issued the order of detention of the dreaded militant leader under the NSA,” a senior police officer said on Friday. Debbarma was wanted for mass murders, kidnappings, instigating violence, conspiracy against sovereignty and waging a war against the State.
The Union Home Ministry declared the ATTF as outlawed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act on April 3, 1997. The Tripura police formally registered a complaint against the outfit and its rival, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), in 1998.
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Bangladesh intelligence sleuths reportedly picked up Debbarma from his safe house at Mohamadpur area in Dhaka in January first week. “Transfer of the underground leader to Tripura police occurred as a result of secret negotiations at diplomatic channels of both countries,” said the police officer who didn’t want to be named. Informed sources said Debbarma might stay in jail for a year without trial if the NSA Advisory Board confirms his arrest.