Just prior to the general elections, hundreds of surrendered militants belonging to various rebel outfits of Tripura took part in a mass gathering in Agartala.
The former rebels came under the umbrella of Tripura United Indigenous People’s Council (TUIPC) demanding proper rehabilitation and withdrawal of cases as per the terms and conditions contained in the government rehabilitation package for surrendered rebels.
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Denial Borok, organisational secretary of TUIPC, informed that the umbrella body comprises surrendered ultras from 48 militant groups.
He lamented that these former rebels “came out of the jungles and laid down their arms” in response to the central and state governments’ plea urging them to “join the mainstream” but have not got proper rehabilitation package till date.
“We are still being tortured by the security forces (especially before the Lok Sabha elections) and though the government had assured us that they will withdraw the pending cases against us, they have not done so till date,” alleged Borok.
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Borok said that 84 surrendered rebels were still “languishing in jails”. He informed that three months back the umbrella body had submitted a memorandum to the Biplab Deb government in Tripura to fulfil their various demands but nothing has been done till date.
The former militant leader also informed that they have a 20-point charter of demands including implementation of the rehabilitation package of the surrendered militants and free education and hostel facilities for their children.
Deputy CM of Tripura Jishnu Debbarma, who attended the mass gathering, assured the surrendered rebels that the state government would look into their grievances once the Lok Sabha elections were over.