37 abducted by NLFT militants

AGARTALA, June 14 – A group of about 30 insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (Biswamohan group) kidnapped 37 persons, mostly small traders, from Kampui-Bhandarima road in North Tripura district from two vehicles in the wee hours today, police said, reports PTI. However, later they released 13 persons, mostly tribals, police said. The small traders were going to a market at Kampui, a hill top tribal hamlet bordering Mizoram to sell goods and agricultural and horticultural products. SP (North) Arbinder Singh and District Magistrate Debotosh Dutta rushed to the spot with heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces to launch combing operation to rescue the kidnapped persons. Today's incident of kidnapping of 37 persons is the second biggest incident in Tripura. Earlier 48 persons were kidnapped by militants in 1998 from Longterai valley in Dhalai district.