AGARTALA, March 18 (TIWN): Around 10 to 12 armed militants from the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have already entered Gandacherra through the 10 kilometer long unfenced border area ahead of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) poll to revive themselves and disrupt the elections of the thirty member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). According to sources, the extremists’ threat has started rising in the eastern sector with incidents of kidnapping of workers for subscription. The banned outfit earlier served letters to the villagers to give subscription as land and property tax. In the letter, they fixed the amounts ranging from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 12000 as per the living standards. They even threatened to abduct the villagers if they failed to pay the money as per their demand within due time, the source added. Around 10 kilometers of bordering area are still unfenced and the work to complete the fencing is on halt due to the frequent attacks by the militants.

On November 17, one BSF jawan and a labourer engaged in construction of border fencing between Khangthalwng to Rajbari in Kanchanpur Sub Division were shot dead leaving one labour injured.

Another BSF jawan was killed in MK Para, a remote village of Ambassa Sub Division on October 24. Khangthalwng, a border village on the Indian side, is known to be a vulnerable area as it shares Jupai of Rangamati district in Bangladesh, believed to be the hotbed of National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT).

Even three drivers of the construction company were kidnapped by the NLFT militants in April, 2013. Though one, somehow, came out of their grip, the fate of the rest two drivers is still a mystery.

Taking to TIWN on Tuesday, Addl. Superintendent of Police (Dhalai District) Kishore Debbarma said that at present Police cannot confirm that the NLFT militants have been already entered Gandacherra subdivision under Dhalai district. But we are conducting a search operation in the area and the BSF and district police authorities were asked to maintain strict vigil along the border so that militants could not enter into the Indian soil, Kishore Debbarma added.