AGARTALA: Bangladesh has launched a determined operation against Indian insurgents camping in its territory in a bid to repair the soured relationship with India. At least six insurgents were killed and several camps destroyed in the weeklong operation, which is still on. Seven militants and one local collaborator have been arrested. The crackdown on Indian militants by the Bangladesh Rifles and the Rapid Action Battalion is clearly an attempt to soothe India after Bangladesh Rifles personnel allegedly killed Border Security Force assistant commandant Jeevan Kumar at Lankamura, in West Tripura district, on April 16.

India had lodged a strong protest against the incident following which Bangladesh expressed its sorrow at the killing. The Bangladesh Rifles informed the BSF in advance about the operation and requested increased vigilance along the border.

BSF inspector-general Suresh Kumar Dutta admitted that instructions have been issued to increase the vigil along the border so that the militants being hunted down by the Bangladeshi forces cannot cross over into India.

“Earlier also Bangladesh had launched an operation against Indian militants, but most of these were cosmetic. But, this time, they seem to be more serious,” said a senior police officer here.

The fiercest encounter between Bangladeshi forces and Indian militants took place in the Nurjahan Tea Garden area. Six militants were killed in the encounter, five of whom reportedly belonged to the Nayanbashi faction of the National Liberation Front of Tripura; the sixth slain militant was a Manipuri.—By arrangement with Asian Age