Former rebel held for misappropriating Tripura funds

AGARTALA - A former leader of a banned separatist outfit has been arrested in this Tripura capital for misappropriating Rs.18.10 lakh (over $40,000) meant for the rehabilitation of rebels who gave up arms, police said Sunday.

Daniel Debbarma, 45, a former self-styled home minister of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), was arrested late Saturday.

He had surrendered along with a large number of cadres Dec 25, 2004.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Tridib Chandra Roy Bhowmik Sunday sent the ex-militant leader to four days’ police custody for interrogation.

“According to the surrender package, Daniel was acting as a treasurer of a society called ‘Yakam’ which used to get funds from the Tripura government under the ‘Livelihood Development Project’ for surrendered militants,” police inspector Manindra Chandra Debnath told reporters.

“He (Daniel) forged the signatures of the member secretary of the society and withdrew about Rs.18.10 lakh by several cheques from banks,” he said.

“In March, a case was registered with the police by the state’s tribal welfare department against Daniel that he was involved in Rs.18.10 lakh worth of misappropriation,” Debnath added.

The NLFT, along with another outlawed outfit All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), has been fighting for an independent tribal homeland in Tripura and operates out of Bangladesh, which surrounds the northeastern state.