Did Tripura Police Successfully Prevent a Militant Attack on I-Day Eve?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Proactive police measures can thwart potential militant threats.
- Intelligence gathering is crucial for security operations.
- The TUNF group poses an evolving challenge in the region.
- Avoiding violence during significant national celebrations is a priority.
- Collaboration between state and central authorities is essential for maintaining peace.
Agartala, Aug 14 (NationPress) Just hours prior to the Independence Day celebrations, security personnel in Tripura successfully thwarted a militant assault targeting the police. Two militants were apprehended, and a substantial cache of explosives was confiscated, as reported by officials.
A senior police representative noted that there had been specific intelligence indicating potential sabotage by an armed faction linked to the Reang (Bru) group, namely the Tripura United National Front (TUNF).
“Acting on this intelligence, an ambush was set up along the Kanchanpur-Vangmun highway. On Thursday evening, active members of TUNF, identified as Dhananjoy Reang and Sadai Nanda Reang, were arrested in front of the Eden tourist lodge, located under the Vangmun police station in the northern district of Tripura,” the official stated.
Dhananjoy Reang is from Katlichhera in Hailakandi district of southern Assam, while Sadai Nanda Reang resides in Kasko, within the Damcherra areas of the north Tripura district.
Authorities recovered high-grade explosive materials from the suspects, according to the police official.
The militants had intended to target police or security personnel involved in the Independence Day festivities and to steal arms and ammunition to bolster their newly established TUNF group, which operates from Assam.
The official emphasized that TUNF is still in its formative phase, with the primary objective of attacking police and security vehicles to acquire weaponry for the group.
“The group has also been plotting subversive actions in Kanchanpur subdivision to attract maximum notice on the eve of this Independence Day. The State Intelligence unit has been diligently monitoring ground inputs over the past two days in coordination with the north Tripura district police,” the official remarked.
This successful operation signifies a notable breakthrough against a potential cross-border militant faction, the official added.
“A significant incident was averted thanks to the proactive measures taken by the Tripura Police,” the official stated.
In a related context, on September 24 of the previous year, a total of 584 militants from the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) surrendered to the Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha during a ceremony at the Tripura State Rifles headquarters in Jampuijala, Sepahijala district.
These militants surrendered following a peace agreement signed with both the Centre and the Tripura government on September 4 of the previous year, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Tripura Chief Minister, and various political leaders and Ministry of Home Affairs officials.