- National Liberation Front of Tripura
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National Liberation Front of Tripura Participant in Tripura rebellion Active 1989 – present Ideology Tripuri nationalism Leaders Biswamohan Debbarma
Utpanna Tripura†
Mukul Debbarma†Area of
operations
Tripura, IndiaStrength approx. 550-850[1][2] Opponents Government of Tripura The National Liberation Front of Tripura (or NLFT) is a Tripuri nationalist militant organization based in Tripura, India.[3][4][5][6] The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and has actively participated in the Tripura Rebellion. The NLFT manifesto says that they want to expand what they describe as the kingdom of God and Christ in Tripura.[7]
The NLFT is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization in India.[8][9]
Contents
History
Investigations revealed that the NLFT produced pornographic films of kidnapped tribal men and women at gunpoint in order to finance its activities.[10] NLFT leaders were also accused of sexually abusing female prisoners.[10]
The NLFT reportedly issued a ban on Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.[7] Nagmanlal Halam, secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was arrested for and confessed to providing munitions and financial aid to the NLFT from 1998 until 2000.[7] According to the Institute for Conflict Management, approximately 90% of the NLFT's administration are Christians.[9] Since 2000, several hundred militants have surrendered to the Indian Security Forces.
Factions
In the wake of the expulsion of Biswamohan Debbarma and Nayanbasi Jamatiya, the NLFT divided into two factions in February 2001.
Cited causes of internal conflicts[9] include the reluctance of Biswamohan Debbarma's Central Executive Committee to nominate Joshua Debbarma as the King of ‘Tripura Kingdom’; misappropriation of funds by senior leaders; lavish lifestyles led by the senior leadership; and forcible conversion of tribal cadres/civilians to Christianity.
Other leaders of the original NLFT included ‘Vice President’ Kamini Debbarma, ‘Publicity Secretary’ Binoy Debbarma, ‘Chief of Army’ Dhanu Koloi, and ‘Finance Secretary’ Bishnu Prasad Jamatiya.
Biswamohan faction
The Biswamohan faction (NLFT/BM) is currently headed by Biswamohan Debbarma.
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, but both leaders vowed to fight on.[11]
Nayanbasi faction
The Nayanbasi faction (NLFT/NB) was led by Nayanbasi Jamatiya until 2004, when it peacefully entered into a Memorandum of Settlement with India.[12]
See also
- Separatist movements of India
- Separatist movements of Sri Lanka
- Separatist movements of Pakistan
- Tripuri nationalism
- Tripura rebellion
- Insurgent groups in Northeast India
- Tripura Baptist Christian Union
- Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura
- List of terrorist organisations in India
Bibliography
- Adam, Jeroen; Bruno De Cordier, Kristof Titeca, Koen Vlassenroot (November 2007). "In the Name of the Father?: Christian Militantism in Tripura, Northern Uganda, and Ambon". Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 30 (11): 963–983. doi:10.1080/10576100701611288.
References
- ^ "Militancy in Tripura". Tripura Police. http://tripurapolice.nic.in/amilitancy.htm#b9. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Latimer, William (March 2004). "What can the United States learn from India to counter terrorism?" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/theses/Latimer04.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ "Terrorist Organization Profile: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)". National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. University of Maryland. http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=3644. Retrieved 2009-03-01.[dead link]
- ^ "Terrorism in South Asia" (PDF). Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. The Library of Congress. 2005-08-31. pp. 44. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl32259.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-01
- ^ Kronstadt, K. Alan, ed (2006-07-31). "India-U.S. Relations" (PDF). Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. The Library of Congress. pp. 22. http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA475268&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-01
- ^ "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices". Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. United States Department of State. 2001-02-23. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=717. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ a b c Bhaumik, Subir (2000-04-18). "Church backing Tripura rebels". BBC News (London). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/717775.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002". Republic of India. South Asia Terrorism Portal. 2002. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/document/actandordinances/POTA.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ a b c National Liberation Front of Tripura at the Institute for Conflict Management's South Asian Terrorism Portal
- ^ a b Bhaumik, Subir (2005-08-27). "India rebels 'making porn films'". BBC News (London). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4190570.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ Bhaumik, Subir (2004-05-06). "Tripura rebels surrender". BBC News (London). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/south_asia/3689925.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-15.[dead link]
- ^ "Policy for Solving Insurgency Problem in NE" (Press release). India Press Information Bureau. 2009-02-18. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=47616.
External links
- National Liberation Front of Tripura at the Institute for Conflict Management's South Asian Terrorism Portal
- National Liberation Front of Tripura at the Tripura Police
Categories:- 1989 establishments
- Irregular military
- Tripura
- Tripuri nationalism
- Government of India designated terrorist organizations
- Religious violence in India
- Christian terrorism
- Secessionist organizations in Asia
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