The Manik Sarkar government in Tripura was on Wednesday put on the defensive in the state assembly following the killing of 21 persons in two different incidents in the early hours of Wednesday.

The opposition charged the Left Front government with 'total failure' to maintain law and order in the state.

"Since this government was reelected to power 67 days ago, 62 killings have taken place," Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath alleged.

The government pleaded helplessness claiming that most militant camps were inside Bangladesh.

"Unless the Bangladesh government cooperates in dismantling these camps, our security forces will find it difficult to contain militancy," Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said.

The latest killings was carried out at Simna Colony in West Tripura district around 0200 IST by suspected militants of the All Tripura Tigers Force (ATTF).

According to information reaching the state capital Agartala, the militants came from their camps across the border at Satchari in Bangladesh, and set fire to some houses.

As people rushed out, the militants opened fire indiscriminate fire killing 18 persons on the spot and injuring several others.

One of the injured succumbed on the way to the hospital in Agartala while eight persons have been admitted to the G B Hospital in the capital.

Police and para-military forces were rushed to the area after authorities heard of the incident.

In a separate incident, another militant outfit, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), killed two persons at Kumarghat in North Tripura district on Tuesday night.