In an early morning strike, eight persons, including four women and one child, were killed by suspected militants of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura at Brindabanghat in West Tripura district on Sunday.
Police said the insurgents first attacked a Special Officers' Camp in the area and exchanged a few rounds of fire with the personnel. The group then encircled three or four houses of the village and fired at the residents, killing seven persons and injuring three others, they said. One of the injured succumbed to injuries at Agartala Medical College Hospital.
The eight civlians who were killed in the attack were Amulya Debnath, Amar Chan Debnath, Aurobindo Debnath (4), Nirodh Debnath, Fulkumari Debnath, Niva Debnath, Chapala Debnath and Premananda Debnah (102).
There was no casualty among the police personnel during the exchange of fire at the camp. A huge contingent of police and Tripura State Rifles have launched extensive combing operation in the area, they said.