Congress demands white paper on background of surrendered of 584 NLFT and ATTF extremists

Opposition Congress has demanded publication of a white paper on the ‘background’ of the extremists who have laid down arms following an agreement with two insurgent groups of Tripura NLFT and ATTF.

A historic memorandum of settlement was signed between the Centre and the state government and two outlawed groups in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on September 4.

As part of the peace accord, altogether 584 extremits had laid down arms before Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha at a TSR battalion headquarters in Jampuijala under Sepahijala district on September 24.

Tripura Pradesh Congress president, Ashish Kumar Saha speaking with media persons said that Congress welcomed those who have shunned the path of violence to lead a normal life but the people want to know the role of the insurgents who have laid down arms when the militancy was at the peak.

The Chief Minister of the state must publish a white paper on how many among the surrendered extremits have been facing specific cases, said Saha.

He said the Centre has already declared a package of Rs 250 crore for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants. "But where is the assistance from Delhi for the flood-affected people?" he asked.

He also demanded a package for the militancy-affected people who had to leave their homes without their belongings due to the insurgency.

A good number of tribal and non-tribal people were displaced due to militancy. They are still residing in various parts of the state amid economic distress and have been demanding proper rehabilitation since decades, said Saha and added that Congress want the Centre to allocate funds also for their resettlement at the earliest.