Exactly 22 years ago on this day four senior RSS pracharaks Shyamal Kanti Sengupta, Dinendranath De, Sudhamay Datta and Subhankar Chakrabarty were kidnapped by a heavily armed NLFT Biswamohan group militants at gun point from Vanabasi Kalyan Ashram, that the Sangha ran for the tribal students at Dhumacherra in Dhalai district. They were ultimately taken to Bangladesh where the four Pracharaks were shot dead and buried. The incident triggered huge reactions across the country. Former Union Home Minister L K Advani also wrote extensively in his book ‘My Country, My Life’ about the four pracharak’s abduction as well as Central and state government government’s follow up actions. The mortal remains could not be traced till recently. This article in two parts will give the readers details of the route that was taken by the militants to take the Pracharaks to Bangladesh, and importantly, the burial ground where they are still resting – all based on identified Eyewitnesses- and also the background of the sensational abduction. These are parts of the upcoming Second Edition of The Eyewitness : Tales from Tripura’s Ethnic conflicts authored by this correspondent.
On August 6, 1999 morning a group of NLFT militants- armed with AK 47s and led by one Bedek Debbarma raided the Vanabasi Kalyan Ashram at Kanchanchhada ( Dhalai district) and kidanpped the four senior RSS pracharaks -Kshetra Karyavah ( Zonal generl secretary) for West Bengal, Assam and North East Shyamal Kanti Sengupta, Pracharak in charge of South Assam Dinendranath De, Agartala Vibagh pracharak Sudhamay Datta and District Pracharak Subhankar Chakrabarty. They were taken to Bangladesh across the border after some days. The militants demanded Rs 2 crore ransom for their safe release- which was not forthcoming. They were then killed and buried in the same pit near a cherra ( rivulet) Laifangtwaisa . The location is near Aphrangcherra camp of the NLFT , in Kaslong reserve forest of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
THE ROUTE
According to eyewitnesses, soon after their abduction the NLFT brought the four RSS men to Krishnojoy Reang Para ( also known as Rambalfa Reang Para)l under Manu PS. They stayed there for one night and then on August 7, 1999 they were taken to Chikanmani Roayaja para (Manu PS) . (Most of the villagers of this hamlet have now shifted to cluster village along the NH 8). One NLFT militant Horingsha Tripura alias Blengtui—now surrendered- said, he was leading another group in Deo Reserve Forest and he came across the NLFT gang led by Bedek Debbarma with the four RSS pracharaks at Chikanmani Roayaja Para.
Another local Birajmohan Tripura ( named changed for security) of Chikanmani Tripura, said one of the abducted 4 RSS men – Shyamal Kanti Sengupta (70), fell ill. The NLFT arranged medicines from Manu and Maachmara for his treatment. But as the condition of Sengupta deteriorated he was separated from the three others and shifted to a Jhum hut ( a hust made by jhum or shifting cultivators) , located in between Chikonmani Royaja Para and Company Para area. Dinendranath De, Sudhamay Datta and Subhankar Chakravarty were taken to Karjofa Grouping area of Deo Reserve Forest and then Chikanmani para.
In the meantime, Sengupta attempted to commit suicide.
He asked for a shaving blade which the militants gave to him. He then slit open a vein in his wrist. It took almost one month to recover from the loss of blood and infection, and septuagenarian Sengupta could never walk on his own later anymore. After one month he was also shifted to Deo reserve forest area from Chikanmani Roaja para by NLFT led by one Jayanta Debbarma and Bullet Debbarma
From there about 12 heavily armed NLFT militants led by Chalasa Debbarma took the four pracharaks to Bangladesh through Pushporam and Pushiham Para, Biranjoy para, Purnadapara, Satarai Para. On their way to Bangladesh villagers were forced to carry elderly Shymal Kanti Sengupta, Dinennath Dey and Sudhamoy Datta while Shubhankar Chakraborty walked down with them.
THE KILLING
One of the villagers Dilip Reang alias Ronnen Fa ( Name changed) of the Khasmat Reang para under Manikpur PS witnessed the pracharaks on the move with the NLFT militants. His family was then engaged in Jhum cultivation inside Bangladesh ( Kaslong RF). Dilip Reang also gave the names of his relatives and other villagers who had with him there in jhum cultivation. He also saw them getting buried in single pit near a hilly Chherra -Laifangtwaisa.
( Jhum or shifting cultivators of the indigenous communities in Tripura traditionally quite often cross the international boundaries in search of new jhum fields. Also there is virtually no border demarcation line in the hilly terrains that connect Tripura with Bangladesh- here Chittagong Hill Tracts )
He could not remember the exact date of their killing but said it was sometime at the ‘end of the winter season’.
The killing was probably committed at the order of one Dipak Debbarma alias Sannyashi as he was the self-styled commander of the NLFT of the area inside Kaslong Reserve Forest camp (Aprangcherra camp). And the four pracharaks were held captive under his command.
Apart from Dilip Reang one more Gandhaki ( a herbal product) businessman Amal Kumar Chakma ( Name changed) of Chhawmnu who visits Kaslong Reserve Forest quite frequently for his business through Jwalabasti (Wadukchherra area) also confirmed the site of their burial.
Another jhumia Birakjoy Tripura ( Name changed), who is also presently residing at Khetrtchharra of Chhawmnu said he had seen the four pracharaks at Aprangchherra, where they later buried.
One surrendered NLFT cadre namely Sachiang Jamatia said he had arranged medicines for abducted RSS men at Aprangchherra area of Bangladesh during their captivity.
THE BURIAL SITE
According to Dilip Reang, Amal Kr Chakma and Birakjoy Tripura, the burial site located at southern direction from Indo-Bangladesh Border and approximate distance will be about 10 Kms. It will take about 6-7 hours to reach the site Laifangtwa- the burial site on foot. Two separate Chherras (rivulets) -Ander Mantic Chherra and Asurchherra are required to be crossed to reach the burial spot which is located in Rangamati District, Marchhia Upajilla and under the Baghachharri Police Station of Bangladesh. Earlier it was under Dighinala Poilice Station.
The easy to reach the spot is from Jwalabastl (Waduk Chherra).
( The report was based on extensive and exhaustive field investigation by an officer who was assigned for the job in particular by a government wing. His name cannot be mentioned as he is still in service. Author has been supported by Anal Roy Choudhury in getting the relevant documents. The names of witnesses were changed due to security reasons but name of the villages remained the same.)
