Thirty People Killed In Tripura

Date: 
Friday, August 15, 2003

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Massacre in Tripura Denounced

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) denounces the massacre perpetrated by terrorist gangs in Tripura on the eve of Independence Day. In two simultaneous attacks, 30 people were killed by the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in Khowai sub-division. Among those killed were 13 women and six children. Nine people were grievously injured in the attacks.

It must be noted that nine extremist organisations in the North-East region jointly called for a boycott of Independence Day. The ATTF was one of these organisations. This heinous crime of murdering poor people mainly belonging to the scheduled castes shows the diabolical nature of these extremist organisations.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) conveys its heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their family members in this criminal violence.

The Central government should immediately deploy the army in the disturbed areas of the state and send back the paramilitary forces which were withdrawn after the assembly elections. The borders must be manned by augmenting the BSF. Further the matter should be taken up with the Bangladesh government to see that the extremist camps across the border are closed down.