Dhalai (Tripura), Sep 15 Consequent to the decline in activities of insurgents in Tripura, the government has decided to withdraw the 16-year-old system of escorting all vehicles plying along the major highways linking Agartala with the rest of the country through Assam and other states.

This was disclosed by A Chaturvedi, Inspector General of Police, Tripura at Dhalai on Monday.

In 1993 the State had promulgated an order that no vehicles will be allowed to ply without security escorts along the highway.

The highway is the lifeline of the landlocked state surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides - north, west and south.

"The reason for withdrawing the convoy system is that now we have gained confidence and now the problem of extremism is controlled and the morale of extremists is very low," Chaturvedi said.

However, to avoid any terror act, patrolling and static deployment of troopers continues and even intensified at certain spots.

The government may allow plying of vehicles round the clock after observing the situation for one year. (ANI)