AGARTALA, December 27 (TIWN): Tripura Police and intelligence machinery needs to wake up from slumber in tackling organized narcotics smuggling, funding Islamic terrorist networks, re-grouping of NLFT, NE militants. Due to recent surge in militant activity across Indo-Bangla, Myanmar corridors, central government would soon hold a meeting with all chief ministers of the eight northeastern states to discuss the security threat by jihadi groups in collaboration with NE insurgent groups NDFB, ULFA, NLFT. Central Govt taking terror threats in NE states very seriously, Situation is serious and a meeting with chief ministers of the states from the (northeast) region will be convened soon to discuss and take strategic decisions. Recent killing of BSF jawans in Tripura by NLFT militants, massive smuggling of arms, narcotics by Islamic terrorist elements are a major concern, as informed by sources in NIA, Army intelligence.A total of 32 militant camps exist along Indo-Bangla border; among them 15 militant camps are being used by NLFT, NDFB, Bangladesh HUJI said a highly placed source in BSF. Of the total 15 militant camps, Tripura ultras belonging to banned outfits National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), the source further added.

Most of these hideouts were concentrated at Chittagong Hill Track (CHT) in the neighboring country Bangladesh. The insurgents were using Tripura-Mizoram-Bangladesh tri-junction as corridor, security agencies including Assam Riffles and Tripura State Riffles (TSR) have been trying hard to stop infiltration of militants from across the border, the source further mentioned.

 In recent months, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested a number of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operatives, including Sahanur Alam wanted in the Oct 2 Burdwan blast case.

Alam, who is number three in the hierarchy of the Assam module of the JMB, had even spent sometime in the plains belt of Garo hills of Meghalaya before his arrest.

Union Minister of State for home, Kiren Rijiju said the central government has constituted a standing committee of the inter-state council headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

"Inter-state council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the centre and states or among the states for better coordination of policy and action," he said.

He said the chairman of the joint intelligence committee has also briefed him about the steps taken to tackle terror activities in the region.

Tripura militancy was effectively curbed with the help of  Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina  but remote regions of Chittagong Hill Tracts like the Northern Sajek ranges (where NLFT bases now are mostly based) are still not accessible and Bangladesh security forces have limited capability of hitting these areas. That explains why the NLFT, specially its Panther regiment, has been able to regroup in this area and operate on the Mizoram-Tripura axis.

They have avoided taking on security forces, lest they face determined counter insurgency action from both sides of the border. They have restricted themselves to rebuilding their finances that lay in tatters.
Though the ATTF is nearly defunct, the NLFT has managed to induct new leaders and retained some of their older ones. Its leadership nucleus is still largely intact despite the breakaway factions giving up in the early 2000.

And this time on, the NLFT may change bits hill insurgency tactics and use more techniques of modern terrorism .

Major towns rather than remote settler villages may be targetted by explosions , specially during festivities

Intelligence reports suggests that the NLFT has sent a team of its best fighters to the NDFB in Assam .

The Bodo rebels usually enjoy the reputation of being the best explosive experts among northeast insurgents and the NLFT has shared bases and funds, manpower and its Christianity driven ideology with the NDFB. Tripura's massive ganja (cannabis) plantations across state worth Rs 500 to 1000 crores, arms, drugs smuggling, banned items like phensedyl smuggling; - fueling terrorist groups fund raisings, Islamic terrorist organization HUJI's spread across North Eastern States.