Dhaka: Bangladesh Rifles reportedly arrested six Indian nationals believed to be members of the rebel National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) in a border village of Habiganj district.

The action comes barely a week after Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan rejected New Delhi's charges that Indian rebels operate from its soil, saying the situation was "completely different" from Bhutan, whose Army is evicting insurgents from the Northeast.

Acting on a tip-off, the Bangladesh Defence Rifles (BDR) conducted a pre-dawn raid on a border village in Habiganj district yesterday (Jan 01, 2004), arresting six persons belonging to the NLFT, private United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency reported today.

The six Indians arrested were identified as Kokek Tripura (22), Philip Debabarma (24), Manjak Bababarma (20), Bukhuk Debabarma (24), Satish Debabarma (25) and Shoilen Debabarma (25), it said.

BDR also seized some arms and ammunition as well as a mobile set from the Tripura rebels, the report said.

In another operation, BDR troops seized arms and ammunition including 32 anti-tank mines and six rocket launchers from Bandarban district bordering Myanmar after a gunfight with Arakanese rebels who fled into deep forest under the cover of dark leaving behind their weapons, the 'Daily Star' reported today.