Saturday, December 25 2004 13:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Agartala: Altogether 138 insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT-Nayanbasi group) today (Dec 25, 2004) formally surrendered to Governor D N Sahaya. The surrender brings to an end the nine-month long suspension of operation against the outfit.

The NLFT-NB had agreed for suspension of operations with the Central Government on April 15 last this year.

Governor D N Sahaya welcomed Barthalemo Borok, a leader of the outfit and his cadres who inked a memorandum of settlement with the Central and Tripura Governments on December 17 last in New Delhi.

The cadres deposited 14 weapons including AK series rifles and 493 rounds of ammunition before the Governor.

During the last nine months, the outfit had abjured violence and the ultras stayed in a designated camp at Lovestory bazaar in South Tripura district.

Four rounds of formal negotiations were held in Delhi besides several rounds of informal discussions, which paved the way for the final settlement on December 17 last.

Earlier, the Central Government announced a special economic package of Rs 55 crore for development of tribals in the State.

Tripura director general of police G M Srivastva said that a special rehabilitation package for the NLFT-NB returnees would also be considered.

The DGP also expressed hope that Nayanbashi Jamatia, supremo of the outfit who had fled to Bangladesh would also surrender.