Tripura, Nov 10 : In retaliation to the surrender of seven of their underground members, banned militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) gunned down eight of their relatives at Pusparampara in North Tripura district here today.

Militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) raided the village, about 70 km from Kanchanpur police station, and kidnapped the eight persons including four women and killed them in a nearby jungle.

The seven NLFT insurgents had surrendered with arms and ammunition to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Amiya Chowdhury yesterday.

A strong contingent of Tripura State Rifles, led by the Superintendent of Police (SP) of North district, has launched a combing operation there.

Ten more insurgents of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have surrendered before troops in Tripura, said the police today.

Seven ultras surrendered yesterday before DSP Amiya Chowdhury at Kanchanpur in North Tripura district and deposited a rifle, 168 live cartridges and two magazines.

The other three surrendered before the commandant of the 15 Battalion of Assam Rifles at Hrankhawlpara camp in Teliamura on the same day and deposited a hand grenade and 20 live cartridges.

Earlier on November 8, six insurgents of the same outfit had given themselves up to the security forces.

The surrender was triggered by frequent raids by the Bangladesh security forces on the militant hideouts in the neighbouring country, specially in the Chittagong hill tracks, and also a food crisis in the camps, police said.

Around 346 insurgents of NLFT and All Tripura Tiger Force have surrendered before the security forces this year. (ANI)