A local court has acquitted the chief of banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) Ranjit Debbarma of the charge of ambushing two legislators at Kaitacobrapara, a tribal hamlet in West Tripura district.
Additional District and Sessions court judge S B Dutta acquitted Debbarma of the charge yesterday due to lack of enough evidence.
Two convoys of the then MLA Pranab Debbarma and the then executive member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomus District Council (TTAADC) Radhacharan Debbarma along with escorts were passing through the hamlet on April 26, 2001 when a group of militants of ATTF had ambushed them and showered bullets on them.
The ultras had gunned down altogether 21 people, including policemen and injured many others. Besides, the militants had damaged two police vehicles.
However, the two leaders had escaped the mayhem by hiding themselves under a culvert.
Debbarma, who was arrested on January 23, 2013 is still in police custody in connection with a number of other cases.
