The Tripura government has withdrawn the security cover of several former extremist leaders after reviewing threat perceptions. The decision has, however, angered their organisations which demanded reinstatement of guards.
Months after the coalition government removed personal guards (PG) attached to leaders of various political parties, it recently removed security of leaders of surrendered extremist groups.
‘Waste of public money’
State government officials justified the decision claiming that it was taken after reviewing all aspects. “The continuation of security of individuals who do not have safety risk is wastage of public money,” a senior official said.
Security has been withdrawn for leaders of former armed underground groups like Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), Tripura Resurrection Army (TRA), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), All Tripura Tribal Force (ATTF) and all factions of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
These groups have laid down arms over the past four decades.
Most important leader who was stripped of security is Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl, founder of the TNV and current chief of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT).
The Tripura United Indigenous Peoples Council (TUIPC), a forum of former extremists, on Sunday expressed displeasure over the decision to withdraw security. It requested the government to rescind the decision as the security of the leaders is still at risk due to their engagements in public and political lives.
