Published: 17th Aug, 2019
Four years after the initiation of dialogue, the Central Government recently signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the last remaining faction of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
Context
Four years after the initiation of dialogue, the Central Government recently signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the last remaining faction of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
About
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)
- The NLFT is a Tripuri nationalist militant organisation based in Tripura.
- It was originally started by Dhananjoy Reang in March of 1989. Reang was removed from his position by a coup in 1993. After the coup, the group was briefly led by Nayanbasi Jamatiya, and then Biswamohan Debbarma took command, but some continued to follow Nayanbasi.
- It was formed in the aftermath of one of the worst ethnic riots in Tripura with the backing of the Baptist Church of Tripura.
- It has an estimated 550 to 850 members.
- It seeks to secede from India demanding to establish a separate tribal homeland - an independent Tripuri state. It wants to expand what they describe as the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ in Tripura.
- It is an active participant in the Insurgency in Northeast India. It waged an armed insurgency for over two decades.
- It was until now designated as a terrorist organisation in the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002.
Biswamohan faction
- The Biswamohan faction (NLFT-BM) was earlier headed by Biswamohan Debbarma. In 2017, in a meeting at an undisclosed location, selected Subir Debbarma, as the new 'president' of the organization renaming it as the NLFT SD.
- It later signed a memorandum of Settlement with Government of India to abide by The Constitution of India & join the mainstream on 10 August 2019.
- Upon the surrender of Mantu Koloi, second in command, he requested that Biswamohan Debbarma and Ranjit Debbarma engage in talks with the Government of India to resolve the crisis.
- This was sparked by the Bangladeshi government’s crackdown on hostile groups. The government there were able to do this by extensively searching the Sacherri jungles where the organization had many of its hideouts.
Nayanbasi faction
- The Nayanbasi faction has approximately 50 sophisticated weapons, 50 persons in collaboration with the group, and 150 cadres in active duty.
- In 2004, the Nayanbasi faction group sent a message to the Additional Director of General Police (ADG) with the intention to start peace talks. These meetings ultimately were not successful.
- Later that year it peacefully entered into a Memorandum of Settlement with India.
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