Hyderabad, Oct. 17: While the presence of army has been hotly debated in several northeastern states, the CPM-led government in Tripura is keen to have the soldiers.

This was indicated by Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, who is in the state to participate in an all-India Agricultural Workers State Committee Conference held at Bhadrachalam yesterday.

The chief minister said the presence of the army was necessary in Tripura to put an end to violence in the state.

?We know how to handle the army. It may be a different story in Manipur but we don?t forsee any problem in Tripura,? he said.

Sarkar said Bangladesh has been a hub of militant groups operating in the Northeast. ?These militants have set up camps in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Though the northeastern states had contributed immensely to the liberation struggle of Bangladesh, that country was abetting secessionists on its soil,? he said.

He said several proposals had been put forward to Bangladesh to end the infiltration of terrorists and secessionists. ?Besides multi-visa system, we also proposed road and rail links to formalise relations. But Bangladesh is yet to endorse any of the proposals,? said Sarkar.

He said he had urged the Bangladesh government to destroy all militant camps on its soil, hand over the rebels to India, freeze all the illegal bank accounts of these organisations and seal Tripura-Bangladesh borders.

He had also asked the Centre to deploy army battalions to the state and take up development activities in the Northeast.

The Tripura chief minister said his government had taken the path of dialogue with the militants in the past. ?However, now it appears that only force will help to drive away these militants from Tripura.?

He said people were supporting the militants because of the Centre?s neglect towards the Northeast and the backwardness of the region. ?We can undertake development only if extremism is put down with force.?

?I had met the Prime Minister and the home minister in June last and sought the presence of the army in Tripura. They had promised to do some thing. But nothing had happened. I am going to Delhi tomorrow to convince them that Tripura immediately needs more soldiers,? he said.

Sarkar said the ongoing talks between the militants and Andhra Pradesh government was a positive gesture and hoped the outcome would pave way for development of neglected regions.

He charged that the Congress had paid the price for abetting with militant organisations in Tripura during last Assembly elections.