AGARTALA, March 31: In the first strike against a high-ranking politician, Tripura Health Minister Bimal Sinha and his younger brother Bidyut were today shot dead by militants of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) when they were going to negotiate the release of their third brother from militants' captivity. The militants fired from automatic weapons on the 48-year-old minister when he, along with his brother, was walking without security towards a forest at Abhanga in Dhalai district to participate in talks for securing the release of his brother Bikram kidnapped by NLFT activists on February 9 last.The two brothers died instantly. The minister had left his vehicle and security personnel near a pond and were moving to an undisclosed destination.President K R Narayanan today deplored the ``senseless act of terrorism'' in the killing of Sinha and called upon the authorities to spare no effort to rid the north east region of the scourge of terrorism.
This was the first time that a ministerin Tripura was killed since insurgency broke out in this sensitive border state nearly two decades ago.The ruling Left Front and Opposition Congress called a 24-hour `Tripura bandh' tomorrow to protest the killing.
With today's incident, militants claimed 23 lives since the new Left Front government assumed office on March 11 last.
A general alert has been sounded in the entire state and border patrolling intensified following the incident, the police said adding tension was running high in the area. Army and additional para military forces were deployed in the area.
This was the third major event of killing by the extremists since the new Left Front government assumed office.
Of the 23 victims, besides the minister were six Tripura State Rifles jawans who were killed on March 22 and two securitymen including a major who were shot dead on March 20.
Besides killings, the militants, mostly belonging to the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and NLFT, are also on the forefront in abducting people to getmoney in ransom.
According to police report here, so far 20 cases of abduction has been received since the new government took charge.
NLFT militants, banned since April last year, also extort money and have recently served ``tax'' notice to merchants. Businessmen have been asked to pay ``tax'' on or before April 1 or face dire consequences.
Nineteen of state's total 44 police stations areas were brought under Disturbed Areas Act since February 16 last year following a series of extremists and communal violence.
Major opposition parties in Tripura blamed the ruling left front for its failure to protect its own minister from the clutches of militants and demanded extention of the Disturbed Areas Act all over the state by giving army a freehand.
Meanwhile, suspected militats of NLFT have abducted a non-tribal teacher from his school at Hariramsardarpara area under disturbed Teliamura police station in Tripura's West District.
Police today said the militants stormed into the senior basic school incivil dress when it was in session and whisked away the teacher, Soumitra Naha, at gun point yesterday.
The ultras reportedly demanded hefty ransom for his release. Army and paramilitary forces launched search operation, police said.
In a seperate incident, security forces arrested a suspected militant, bichinga chakma, from anandabazar area in north district yesterday. A pistol was also seized from his possession.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
