The
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was formed in December 1989
under the leadership of Dhananjoy Reang, the former Vice-President of
Tripura National Volunteers (TNV). Later, Nayanbasi Jamatia gained control
over the organisation. In subsequent years, Viswamani Debbarma became the
leader of the group. At present, D Baithang is the President of the outfit
and Dhanu Koloi its Chief of Army Staff. The main objective of the NLFT is
to establish an 'independent' Tripura through an armed struggle.
The
NLFT was banned in April 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act, 1967, following its involvement in terrorist and secessionist
activities. NLFT terrorists continue to carry out a series of killings,
abductions and attacks on security force personnel. Between January 1 and
December 27, 2000, they killed 212 persons, including 11 security force
personnel and abducted 481 persons. During the same period 36 NLFT
terrorists were killed, 495 arrested and 19 surrendered.
It
has set up a number of camps in neighbouring Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT), in the Sylhet, Maulavi Bazar, Habiganj and Comilla areas. In
March 1999, the Bangladesh Army busted two camps of NLFT and arrested 42
activists in the CHT. NLFT is the most active terrorist group in the
State. It has an estimated strength of about 800 cadres.
On
the peace front, Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, in April 2001, held
a round of peace talks with the NLFT leadership in Aizwal on the request
of the Chief Minister of Tripura. However, the NLFT has remained
non-commital to a more comprehensive peace process.
The
outfit, of late, faces the prospects of dis-integration along ethnic
lines. News reports suggest that internal bickering within the NLFT and
its political wing has led to a spate violent internecine clashes being
reported from Tripura and the outfit's camps in the adjoining Bangladesh.
Senior leaders such as Utpanna Tripura and Mukul Debbarma have been killed
in this violence. Other senior leaders such as Joshua Debbarma and
Nayanbashi Jamatia have been expelled as an outcome of differences with
the chief, Biswamohan Debbarma and his clique. The first reports of
internal difference within the outfit were published by Chaba, a
publication of the Tripura People's Democratic Front, the political wing
of a rival terrorist outfit - All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
