Agartala, Nov 10 (IANS) At least eight tribal villagers including four women were killed and another injured by separatists in Tripura, police said Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Nepal Das said: ‘Heavily armed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants attacked Pushparampara village in northern Tripura Monday midnight and abducted eight villagers before gunning them down in a nearby jungle.’

‘The victims were all family members of ten NLFT militants who had surrendered before security forces Monday,’ Das added.

‘The Bangladesh-trained militants led by their self-styled leader Kiranjoy Reang, 30, surrendered before senior officers of the Tripura police,’ he said.

With this 16 NLFT militants have laid down their arms and ammunition before authorities in Tripura Sunday and Monday.

The guerrillas deposited a large cache of arms and ammunition as well as Bangladeshi currency. They are being interrogated by senior police officials.

Meanwhile, details of the attack in Pushparampara village are yet to be confirmed. ‘We are yet to get details of the attack as the village is located on the edge of the Bangladesh border and is almost inaccessible,’ Das said.

Director General of Police Pranay Sahaya accompanied by senior police officials rushed to the spot, 150 km north of state capital Agartala, and launched a massive operation to nab the ultras.

The banned NLFT is fighting for an independent tribal homeland and operates out of Bangladesh.

This was the first major militant attack in Tripura this year.