Tripura - BSF arrests Bangladeshi terror group PCJSS (Santu) armed cadre

The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Monday arrested Apollo Chakma, an armed cadre of the Parbotto Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) headed by chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Santu Larma.

 Apollo Chakma, son of Bijay Chakma from Panchari, Khagrachari district of Bangladesh was arrested while crossing the Indo-Bangladesh border through Gate No.2 Amrit Para BSF camp under Dhalai district of Tripura. The BSF recovered a walkie talkie set and handed him over to the Rashyabari Police Station. The Tripura Police has arrested him under various charges including cow smuggling, illegal entry into India.

The PCJSS headed by Santu Group has been described as a terrorist organization by the Guwahati High Court, in its judgment on 5 September 2024 in the case of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Vs. Rohmingliana while adjudicating a case of arms smuggling by the PCJSS cadres. The PCJSS has turned into an Indo-Bangladesh border smuggling gang and has been involved in various crimes including trafficking of arms, drugs, Indian cows and Burmese cigarettes. Massive public protests were held against the PCJSS in South Tripura in July-August 2025 for their involvement in various crimes including drug trafficking and spoiling the youths of Tripura.

Under Interim Government of Bangladesh, the PCJSS was known to have worked with anti-India forces. As the funds for the CHT Regional Council were withheld, the PCJSS has become desperate and cross border crimes by its cadres have increased.