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		 India Tripura, India
Strength approx. 550-850[1]
Opponents Government of Tripura

The National Liberation Front of Tripura (or NLFT) is a Tripuri nationalist militant organization based in Tripura, India.[2][3][4][5] 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.[6]

The NLFT is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization in India.[7][8]

Contents

History[edit]

The Government of the state of Tripura claimed to have uncovered evidence to support the assertion that the Baptist Church of Tripura has been funding the terrorists. The NLFT has been accused of forcing local tribals to convert to Christianity at gunpoint.[9] They have also opened fire on Hindu worshippers and ransacked celebrations of Durga Puja.[10]

The Baptist Church of Tripura was initially set up by missionaries from New Zealand in the 1940s. Despite their efforts, even until the 1980s, only a few thousand people in Tripura had converted to Christianity. In the aftermath of one of the worst ethnic riots, the NLFT was born in 1989—allegedly with the help of the Baptist Church. Since then, the NLFT has been advancing its cause through armed rebellion.

Indian Government officials have accused the Baptist Church of Tripura of supporting this violent campaign by providing funding and arms for the group. In April 2000, Nagmanlal Halam, secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was caught providing 50 gelatine sticks, 5 kilograms of potassium and 2 kilograms of sulphur and other ingredients for making explosives to the group.

In October 2000, the NLFT ordered all Hindus to cease celebration of Durga Puja[11] [6] In 2001, there were 826 reported terrorist attacks in Tripura, in which 405 people lost their lives and 481 kidnappings were made by the NLFT and related organizations such as the Christian All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTP).[11] Nagmanlal Halam, secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was arrested for and confessed, under torture from police, to providing munitions and financial aid to the NLFT from 1998 until 2000.[6]

In another incident in August 2003, police arrested the secretary of a Baptist Christian Missionary church in North Tripura District who was in possession of 5 kilograms (11 lb) of potassium, 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) sulphur, few gelatin sticks and 45 grams (1.6 oz) of high explosive materials.[9]

Recent investigations, as well as confessions from surrendered members, have revealed that the NLFT have been making and selling pornography to finance their activities. This includes DVDs of pornographic films made by the group with tribal men and women kidnapped and forced to participate in sex acts while being filmed. The movies are dubbed into various languages and sold illegally throughout the region for a profit. The women have also been sexually abused by NLFT members.[12] NLFT produced pornographic films of kidnapped tribal men and women at gunpoint in order to finance its activities (claimed by Left front government and Bengalis).[13] NLFT leaders were also accused of sexually abusing female prisoners.[13]

According to the Institute for Conflict Management, approximately 90% of the NLFT's administration are Christians.[8] Since 2000, several hundred militants have surrendered to the Indian Security Forces.

Factions[edit]

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[8] 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[edit]

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.[14]

Nayanbasi faction[edit]

The Nayanbasi faction (NLFT/NB) was led by Nayanbasi Jamatiya until 2004, when it peacefully entered into a Memorandum of Settlement with India.[15]

See also[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  1. ^ Latimer, William (March 2004). "What can the United States learn from India to counter terrorism?" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  2. ^ "Terrorist Organization Profile: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)". National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. University of Maryland. 
  3. ^ K. Alan Kronstadt, Bruce Vaughn, ed. (2005-08-31). "Terrorism in South Asia" (PDF). Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. The Library of Congress. p. 44. Retrieved 2009-03-01 
  4. ^ Kronstadt, K. Alan, ed. (2006-07-31). "India-U.S. Relations" (PDF). Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. The Library of Congress. p. 22. Retrieved 2009-03-01 
  5. ^ "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices". Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. United States Department of State. 2001-02-23. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  6. ^ a b c Bhaumik, Subir (2000-04-18). "Church backing Tripura rebels". BBC News (London). Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  7. ^ "The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002". Republic of India. South Asia Terrorism Portal. 2002. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  8. ^ a b c National Liberation Front of Tripura at the Institute for Conflict Management's South Asian Terrorism Portal
  9. ^ a b "SOUTH ASIA | 'Church backing Tripura rebels'". BBC News. 2000-04-18. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  10. ^ Paul, Manas (2010). The Eyewitness: Tales from Tripura's Ethnic Conflict. Lancer Publishers. 
  11. ^ a b [1][dead link]
  12. ^ Bhaumik, Subir (2005-08-27). "South Asia | India rebels 'making porn films'". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  13. ^ a b Bhaumik, Subir (2005-08-27). "India rebels 'making porn films'". BBC News (London). Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  14. ^ Bhaumik, Subir (2004-05-06). "Tripura rebels surrender". BBC News (London). 
  15. ^ "Policy for Solving Insurgency Problem in NE" (Press release). India Press Information Bureau. 2009-02-18. 

External links[edit]

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