NEW DELHI, India: More than 11,000 villagers have fled to India to escape clashes in eastern Bangladesh between security forces and tribal guerrillas fighting for greater autonomy, the Press Trust of India said today.
The refugees include some 600 tribe members from six border villages in the remote Chittagong district of Bangladesh who crossed into the Indian state of Tripura Wednesday, the news agency said, quoting official sources in the state capital Agartala.
The Press Trust said the villagers fled to escape “search and destroy” missions by Bangladesh security forces against suspected ‘guerrilla bases in the hilly Chittagong area, about 1,000 miles east of New Delhi.
Refugees in Tripura say hundreds of people have died in the violence.
More than 11,000 villagers have crossed into Tripura since early May when fierce fighting erupted between Bangladeshi troops and members of the Shanti Bahini, or Peace Force, which is fighting for greater autonomy for the mostly Buddhist tribes in the region.
10 years ago by native residents who resented an influx of Moslem settlers into their areas.
The rebels say the Bangladesh government sponsored the migration.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 30, 1986
