In a rare goodwill gesture, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) handed over 18 All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) militants to the Border Security Force (BSF) in Tripura on September 13. The militants confessed that the BDR had raided their headquarters at Satcherri across Sadar North’s border in Simna on October 10, 2004, after which they were handed over to the Chunarughat police station, and sentenced for three years’ rigorous imprisonment. At the end of the sentence two months back, the BDR decided to hand them over to the BSF1.

Meanwhile, the Central Government summarily rejected the possibility of disbanding the Unified Command. The B Company of ULFA’s 28 battalion had set it as a condition for it to come over ground. The Union Home Ministry on its part had reportedly conveyed to the Assam Government its inability to accept the demand2.

• 1. “BDR hands over 18 militants to BSF,” Telegraph, September 15, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080915/jsp/northeast/story_9833635.jsp
• 2. “Centre rejects Ulfa B proviso: Unified Command not to be disbanded,” Telegraph, September 20, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080920/jsp/northeast/story_9861574.jsp