AGARTALA, May 30 (TIWN): Welcoming the repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) Tripura Police Inspector General of Police (IGP, Control Room) Nepal Das said, “Because the situation has changed now and new things awaits to come up here in Tripura the government has taken a decision to repeal the AFSPA.” Talking to TIWN on Saturday Das said, “Tripura Police welcomes the decision of the govt. and we thank the security forces for their major contribution in bringing the insurgency activities to wane.” Das said that it is nothing but the joint effort of the state security forces, police and the state govt. which succeed to take the 1997-2001 period of time into wane now. “State govt. and the security forces along with the police has brought the insurgency activities and violence by the NLFT and ATTF militants down by implementing integrated formulas and operation plants in the disturbed areas of the state.” The Act was implemented in 40 police station areas of the state in February, 1997. With declining insurgency, the administration, in June 2013 had earlier withdrawn the Act from nine police stations. Tripura's state government has withdrawn Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The state government decided to lift the AFSPA after 18 years of its existence.

Chief Minister of the state Manik Sarkar while making the announcement on Thursday had said that since insurgency activities in the state have come down to zero there was no need of AFSPA.

The Disturbed Areas Act was invoked in Tripura in early 1997 following a spate of murders and kidnappings by militant tribal groups, but violence has continued unabated in the State till 2001 and for the next couple of years. The tension has escalated, particularly in the hilly interiors of the State.

Groups such as the NLFT and the ATTF ran parallel administrations in the hilly areas where the development process has come to a standstill. These groups, which held sway in these areas, had stepped up activities such as extortions.

 Government employees, businessmen, contractors, tribal chiefs and tribal and non-tribal people are forced to contribute to their kitty.

Das on Saturday said that it is still unbelievable that in the state of Manipur people are still scared to come out of their home because of the rampant insurgency activities all across the state, but as compared to the state Tripura succeed to bring violence by banned militant outfits into wane.

Besides, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar after deciding to repeal the AFSPA from the state had also praised Bangladesh for its active role against militants in the state using its territory, saying that India's neighbour has played a vital role in returning peace.

Asked about if there is any other banned militant outfit hiding still, Das said, “It is a fact that still some extremist elements are hiding at the neighbouring country Bangladesh.”

However but it is worthy to mention here that a strip of the Tripura-Bangladesh border is still to be fenced with barbed wire. That is the area being used by the extremists who have camps in Bangladesh to get in and out.

The Tripura government’s decision to withdraw the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been appreciated not only by the people of the state, but also across the North-East. People of the North-East have now pinned hopes on other state governments to follow suit.