BSF trooper, civilian driver killed in Tripura attack

A BSF trooper and a civilian driver were killed, while another man was injured Monday when militants fired at them in Tripura, police said.

Himari Rangtor, the 48-year-old driver of a water tanker, and his assistant Jiten Chakma went to fetch water from a pond in Khantlang in northern Tripura, 225 km from Agartala. They were escorted by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers.

Unidentified militants fired at them, killing Rangtor on the spot, Inspector General of Police (police control) Nepal Das told IANS.

Chakma and a BSF trooper were critically injured in the firing and brought to the Govinda Ballav Pant Medical College and Hospital here.

The trooper - who had not been identified yet - succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital, he said.

Rangtor and Chakma worked for a private company engaged for constructing border fencing in Khantlang, a tri-junction of the Tripura-Mizoram and Bangladesh borders.

The area is strategically important as militants use it for trans-border movement.

BSF and police officials have rushed to the area and launched a massive combing operation to nab the militants, suspected to be from the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).

Police said this was the sixth such incident in Tripura this year. A BSF trooper was shot dead by NLFT militants Oct 23.