Former separatist held in Tripura for stealing funds

AGARTALA - Former terrorist-turned-separatist Daniel Debbarma has been arrested in this Tripura capital for stealing Rs.18.10 lakh (over $40,000) meant for surrendered extremists, police here said Sunday.

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

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

“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 signature of the member secretary of the society and withdrew about Rs.18.10 lakh by several cheques from banks.”

“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.

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.