Mob attacks police station demanding release of nabbed NLFT collaborators

As many as five policemen sustained grievous injuries after a frenzied mob attacked and cordoned off Ganganagar police station under Dhalai district of Tripura late on Friday night. The mob was bidding to set free three detained National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) collaborators.

Agartala:As many as five policemen sustained grievous injuries after a frenzied mob attacked and cordoned off Ganganagar police station under Dhalai district of Tripura late on Friday night. The mob was bidding to set free three detained National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) collaborators.

The mob threw stones, brickbats and harassed the on-duty police officers demanding the immediate release of the collaborators of proscribed NLFT.

Three police vehicles parked before the police station were vandalized and some parts of the police station were also tried to be ransacked. Observing the situation turning highly volatile, police fired tear gas cells to hold control over the situation and the mob was dispersed.

Speaking with reporters, Kishore Debbarma, Dhalai district Superintendent of Police, said that three people were arrested in connection with an extremist-related case.

"We have been tipped off that some armed groups are active in the bordering areas of Ganganagar and Mungiakami area. Investigating the lead, we have arrested three youth and interrogated them. Based on that, we come to know about some evidence and certain communication links such as the exchange of sim cards between them and the NLFT extremists", said Debbarma.

As soon as they were arrested, he said, the local public started to agitate. "They wanted the release of these three youths but we tried to convince them that their demands were illegal. But the SP said, they did not pay any heed to the arguments of the police and tried to escalate the problem."

They tried to release them forcefully. "The police have tried its best to reach an amicable solution through dialogue but a section of the mob indulged in vandalism. This prompted the police to use mild force and fire tear gas cells to disperse the mob", the district's police chief said.

Mrinal Kanti Reang, Officer-in-Charge of Ganganagar police station, said over the telephone that three persons- Birenjoy Reang, Thomaroy Reang and Dhananjoy Reang were arrested from a jungle on Friday evening for their collaboration with the banned extremist outfit- NLFT.

He also said that five to six policemen including TSR personnel had sustained injuries in the incident. The injured policemen were taken to a local hospital immediately after the incident.

Two tear shells were fired by police to disperse the mob and defuse the unrest, Reang said, adding that the three arrestees were produced before a local court on Saturday.