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National Liberation Front of Tripura
National Liberation Front of Tripura
National Liberation Front of Tripura
The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was formed in December 1989 for the
purpose of seceding from India in order to create an independent state of Tripura. The NLFT has
conducted a systematic and violent campaign for secession from India. It was declared as an
unlawful organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 1997. Due to their
activities, they were declared by the Government of India as a terrorist organization under the
Prevention of Terrorism Act in 2002.[1]
Contents
• 1 Militancy and Violence
• 3 Activities
• 4 Other Ties
• 5 Peace Efforts
• 6 Split
• 7 See also
• 8 External links
Other Ties
The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura is generally seen as the political wing of NLFT. In
fact, its formation was pushed through by NLFT by forcing various factions to unite into INPT.
NLFT is working closely with other North-Eastern Indian insurgent groups such as the United
Liberation Front of Asom for liberation from India. (see Insurgent groups in Northeast India)
Peace Efforts
In Tripura, a systematic surrender of arms by a faction of NLFT insurgents and NLFT fringe
groups is due to the increased security pressure and to infighting within NLFT insurgent ranks.
Since 2000 a few hundred militants have surrendered in small groups to the security forces,
handing in their weapons. The NLFT leadership engaged in peace talks with Mizoram Chief
Zoramthanga in April 2001, however the NLFT has not promised acceptance of any future peace
process.
Split
In February 2001, the NLFT split into two groups, one headed by Biswamohan Debbarma and
the other by Nayanbasi Jamatiya.Nayanbasi Jamatiya and Joshua Debbarma, two NLFT
members, were expelled from the group and a parallel outfit was formed under the leadership of
Jamatiya. The split occurred because of multiple reasons:
1. Reluctance of the Central Executive Committee of NLFT led by Biswamohan Debbarma
to nominate Joshua Debbarma as the King of ‘Tripura Kingdom’;
2. Misappropriation of funds by senior leaders;
3. Lavish lifestyles led by the senior leadership; and
4. Forcible conversion of tribal cadres/civilians to Christianity.
Jamatiya and Debbarma have been heading two factions since 2001. In June 2003, ‘General
Secretary’ Mantu Koloi was reportedly made leader of the Biswamohan faction.Earlier, internal
bickering within the NLFT had led to a spate of violent internecine clashes in Tripura and at the
outfit's camps in Bangladesh. Senior leaders such as Utpanna Tripura and Mukul Debbarma are
believed to have been killed in such violence. However, other leaders of the undivided NLFT
included ‘Vice President’ Kamini Debbarma, ‘Publicity Secretary’ Binoy Debbarma, ‘Chief of
Army’ Dhanu Koloi, and ‘Finance Secretary’ Bishnu Prasad Jamatiya. While the Debbarma
faction reportedly has an estimated strength of 550 cadres, the Nayanbasi faction comprises
approximately 250 cadres. 90% of the NLFT's top leaders are Christians.[7]
See also
• Tripura Baptist Christian Union
• Tripura
• Terrorism
• Fundamentalist Christianity
• Baptist
External links
• Baptist Associations in India
• Constitution of NLFT