Agartala, July 14: A combined team of police and the Tripura State Rifles jawans apprehended an area commander of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) at Ampi in Amarpur subdivision of South Tripura district last night.

Police sources said Balkhan Malsum, 24, was traced to Jalayapara, a remote village under Ampi police station.

“We conducted the operation after being tipped off about his presence. We trekked 15 miles southeast of Ampi. Balkhan was involved in the abduction of Alani Kumar Malsum, a tribal youth. We seized a rifle,” Amarpur subdivisional police officer Rakesh Baidya said, adding that Balkhan’s accomplices had escaped.

The militants are targeting poor tribals for extortion and abduction for ransom after most non-tribals left the interior areas of the state in the wake of ethnic cleansing and spurt in insurgency.

Describing Balkhan’s arrest as a major success, Baidya said the militants had abducted Alani Kumar, 21, at gunpoint from Tantiabari village under Ampi on June 15 this year.

Following a wave of protests and a joint search operation by the police and the TSR, the militants were forced to release Alani Kumar within a week.

“Balkhan’s arrest will encourage the tribals to resist the depredations of the NLFT,” Baidya said.

Special search operations will continue to flush out militants and their collaborators from the hilly areas, he added.