NLFT intimidated voters in Tripura: Sarkar

By Barun Das Gupta

SHILLONG, MAY 12. The elections to the Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council (TTADC), in which the NLFT-backed Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) captured power ousting the Left Front, signifies a ``qualitative change'' in the position of one of the militant outfits, according to the Tripura Chief Minister, Mr. Manik Sarkar.

Speaking to TheHindu today, in what he said was his first press interview after the TTADC elections, Mr. Sarkar, who is here to attend the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the seven northeastern States, dwelt at length on the elections and the situation in Tripura.

So far, the two militant outfits - the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All-Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) - were talking of an ``independent Tripura'' and ``independent North- East.'' They opposed elections, saying they did not recognise the Indian Constitution.

This time, however, while the ATTF continued to boycott the polls, the NLFT decided to participate by supporting the IPFT.

Earlier, while the NLFT prevented people at gunpoint from casting votes, this time it forced them to vote for the IPFT candidate.

In some inaccessible areas which did not have adequate security cover, the NLFT militants entered polling booths and asked the voters to show them the stamped ballot papers to make sure they voted for the IPFT candidates.

The decision of the BJP, the Trinamool Congress, Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS) and the JD(U) not to take part in the elections, helped the NLFT-IPFT to further intimidate the voters, who were told that these parties were afraid and dare not put up their candidates.

Giving details of the atmosphere of terror created by the militants, Mr. Sarkar said this being the ``jhum'' (shifting cultivation) season, the ``jhumiyaas'' were told that unless ``our'' candidates won, they would not only be prevented to jhum but driven out of the area.

The militants kidnapped Left Front candidates, their wives and parents, and did everything to terrorise the voters. ``The common tribals' threat perception worked in the elections,'' Mr. Sarkar said. The poll percentage came down to 67 from the usual 90.

Asked what the CPI(M) proposed to do to combat the militants, Mr. Sarkar said, ``We would wait and watch their activities after the polls. We will also wait for the feedback from our party workers on the situation and the reasons for our defeat. Then our State committee will meet, review the situation and decide on our next course of action.''

The party's main strategy would be to preserve the unity of the tribals and non-tribals and strengthen it further. In the long run, only this could ensure peace.

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