Agartala, Dec 1 (IANS) The Tripura government has asked the central intelligence agencies to confirm media reports from Dhaka about the arrest of a wanted northeast India terrorist leader in Bangladesh, police said here Tuesday.
“We have asked the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and IB (Intelligence Bureau) to verify the media reports about the detention of NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) supremo Biswamohan Debbarma by the Bangladeshi security forces,” Director General of Tripura Police Pranay Sahaya said.

Sahaya told IANS: “Following the request of the Tripura Police and union home ministry a ‘Red Corner’ notice was earlier issued by the Interpol to arrest Debbarma, 43, a politician turned militant leader.”

“We are awaiting the reports and confirmation from the central intelligence agencies,” the Tripura Police chief said.

Debbarma, who had been leading the NLFT for the past two decades, was wanted by the Indian security agencies in connection with cases relating to violence, murder, kidnapping, use of arms and explosives. He was carrying a reward of Rs.400,000 besides an Interpol arrest warrant.

The NLFT is a banned rebel group fighting for an independent tribal homeland and operates out of Bangladesh.

Quoting intelligence agencies, a section of national television channels and leading Tripura newspapers, including ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) mouthpiece ‘Daily Desher Katha’ have reported that NLFT chairman Biswamohan Debbarma was arrested by the Bangladeshi security forces at Bandarban in southeastern Bangladesh Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a significant development, the Border Security Force (BSF) troopers had ‘arrested or detained’ two top United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) insurgents last month.

The BSF troopers in the first week of last month ‘detained or arrested’ ULFA’s self-appointed finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika and self-styled foreign secretary Shashadhar Chowdhury along the Bangladesh border in western Tripura.

All these developments assume significance ahead of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s India visit commencing Dec 19, when the two nations are expected to sign at least three agreements.

The prime ministers of India and Bangladesh are expected to meet in New Delhi on Dec 19.

The three-day home secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh is now on in New Delhi.

“Tackling terrorism, infiltration and border crimes, as well as smuggling of fake currency and human trafficking is high on the agenda in the home secretary level talks,” a senior official said.

“The Indian delegation, led by Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai, would ask for help from Bangladesh to deal with security issues, specially the anti-India jehadi organisations and the northeast militants operating from its territory,” the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

A five-member Bangladesh delegation, headed by its Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder took part in the three-day talks. A joint statement is likely to be signed Wednesday.