Agartala: Reports of a resurgence in militant activities in parts of North Tripura and the Dhalai district have placed Tripura’s security establishment under significant stress. Contractors and businessmen from certain pockets have started receiving extortion calls from self-proclaimed militant groups.
However, none of these groups have formally declared their nomenclature, a senior police official informed EastMojo.
Two leading insurgent groups—the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF)—had previously laid down their arms, leading the state government to declare the decades-long insurgency in Tripura near its end. Yet, within months, signs of militant resurgence are once again gaining traction. Some top sources have linked this development to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in neighboring Bangladesh.
Regions such as the Deo Valley, Longai Valley, and Longtharai Valley in the Dhalai district are reportedly emerging as new corridors for militant activity.
Sources indicate that these insurgents are demanding significant sums of money from government contractors who have been issued work orders for major infrastructure projects. In some cases, contractors have halted work due to security concerns for their workers.
Many contractors associated with departments such as Rural Development (RD), Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS), and Public Works have stopped operations and requested police to deploy adequate security at work sites.
One contractor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents frequently use WhatsApp to send voice messages and make calls, demanding 10% of the total work order amount as “protection money.” Those who refuse are threatened with severe consequences.
The insurgents have also reportedly sent photographs of themselves wearing olive-green fatigues and brandishing weapons to intimidate contractors further.
Extortion calls have been particularly rampant in areas such as Bhandarima, Chhaygarhpur, Pushparampara, Bijay Kumar, Shaikar, Shermun, Khasi Tai, Anand Bazaar, Satnala, and Dashda.
Addressing the situation, a senior police official said, “We have received complaints and are conducting investigations. It could be the work of some fringe groups, as most of the listed militants have surrendered following the decision by ATTF and NLFT leaders to join mainstream life. There is no concrete evidence yet about which group is behind this or who their leaders are. To boost local confidence, we have increased the deployment of armed forces and Tripura State Rifles.”
Top sources in the Border Security Force (BSF) also confirmed that alerts had been issued, and surveillance has been stepped up in bordering areas, which were once notorious for militant activities.
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