Agartala, Mar 6: Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has confirmed before the state assembly that his government is efficiently battling all insurgent forces.

Altogether 104 underground tribal militants have been killed in encounters with security forces and 862 insurgents have surrendered and returned to normal life during the last three years, official sources said.

The chief minister, who is also holding the home portfolio, has informed in the state assembly that during this period, 71 security personnel have also been killed by militants in different parts of the state either in ambush or encounter.

The chief minister has also said that during the fifth Left Front rule, 862 militants had surrendered and returned to normal life.

Rehabilitation arrangements have been made for 801 militants who have surrendered so far.

Mr Sarkar further informed the house in a written reply that in total 1,066 innocent persons had been abducted by insurgendts from various parts of the state during the past seven years and 200 of them still remain in the kidnappers' captivity.

He turned down the opposition demand for constitution of a commission by a sitting judge to investigate into the nexus between underground forces and political parties in the state.

''It is not necessary to constitute such a commission to probe into the alleged nexus between a political party and militants,'' the chief minister said, adding that ''our (the government's) work was to combat terrorism'' and we are doing it.

''Who are involved with the militants, this would be replied best by the people as they have the right answer,'' Mr Sarkar asserted.


UNI