National Liberation Front of Tripura
Encyclopedia
The National Liberation Front of Tripura (or NLFT) is a Tripuri nationalist
militant
organization based in Tripura
, India
.
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.
The NLFT is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization in India.
films of kidnapped tribal men and women at gunpoint in order to finance its activities. NLFT leaders were also accused of sexually abusing female prisoners.
The NLFT reportedly issued a ban on Durga Puja
and Saraswati Puja. 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. According to the Institute for Conflict Management, approximately 90% of the NLFT's administration are Christians.
Since 2000, several hundred militants have surrendered to the Indian Security Forces.
and Nayanbasi Jamatiya, the NLFT divided into two factions in February 2001.
Cited causes of internal conflicts 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.
.
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.
Tripuri nationalism
Tripuri nationalism is an ideology that supports self-determination by the Tripuri people.-History:Tripuri political organizations and militant groups include:*All Tripura Tiger Force*Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura...
militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
organization based in Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and has actively participated in the Tripura Rebellion
Tripura rebellion
The Tripura Rebellion is a conflict in Tripura state of India. It is a rebellion of the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force, which claim to represent the Tripuri people, an economically disadvantaged community.. The NLFT, founded in 1989, aims for independence for...
. The NLFT manifesto says that they want to expand what they describe as the kingdom of God and Christ in Tripura.
The NLFT is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization in India.
History
Investigations revealed that the NLFT produced pornographicPornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
films of kidnapped tribal men and women at gunpoint in order to finance its activities. NLFT leaders were also accused of sexually abusing female prisoners.
The NLFT reportedly issued a ban on Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
and Saraswati Puja. 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. According to the Institute for Conflict Management, approximately 90% of the NLFT's administration are Christians.
Since 2000, several hundred militants have surrendered to the Indian Security Forces.
Factions
In the wake of the expulsion of Biswamohan DebbarmaBiswamohan Debbarma
Biswamohan Debbarma is the current chairman of the National Liberation Front of Tripura. He is currently wanted by India and Interpol for crimes against life and health, and crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives.-References:...
and Nayanbasi Jamatiya, the NLFT divided into two factions in February 2001.
Cited causes of internal conflicts include the
reluctance of Biswamohan Debbarma's Central Executive Committee to nominate Joshua Debbarma as the King of ‘Tripura Kingdom’;
misappropriation
Misappropriation
In law, misappropriation is the intentional, illegal use of the property or funds of another person for one's own use or other unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or administrator of a dead person's estate or by any person with a responsibility...
of funds by senior leaders;
lavish lifestyles led by the senior leadership; and
forcible conversion
Forced conversion
A forced conversion is the religious conversion or acceptance of a philosophy against the will of the subject, often with the threatened consequence of earthly penalties or harm. These consequences range from job loss and social isolation to incarceration, torture or death...
of tribal cadres/civilians to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
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 DebbarmaBiswamohan Debbarma
Biswamohan Debbarma is the current chairman of the National Liberation Front of Tripura. He is currently wanted by India and Interpol for crimes against life and health, and crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives.-References:...
.
Upon the surrender of Mantu Koloi, second in command, he requested that Biswamohan Debbarma and Ranjit Debbarma
Ranjit Debbarma
Ranjit Debbarma is the current chairman of the All Tripura Tiger Force. He is wanted by Interpol for criminal conspiracy and weapons trafficking....
engage in talks with the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
to resolve the crisis, but both leaders vowed to fight on.
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.See also
- Separatist movements of IndiaSeparatist movements of IndiaThere are various sepatratist movements in India, mainly in the north-east of the country. There are 3 main secessionist movements namely Khalistan, Assam and Kashmir....
- Separatist movements of Sri Lanka
- Separatist movements of PakistanSeparatist movements of PakistanThere are various separatist movements of Pakistan. Several parties based on ethnic lines exist though only two, the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and Balochistan Liberation Front are of much significance....
- Tripuri nationalismTripuri nationalismTripuri nationalism is an ideology that supports self-determination by the Tripuri people.-History:Tripuri political organizations and militant groups include:*All Tripura Tiger Force*Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura...
- Tripura rebellionTripura rebellionThe Tripura Rebellion is a conflict in Tripura state of India. It is a rebellion of the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force, which claim to represent the Tripuri people, an economically disadvantaged community.. The NLFT, founded in 1989, aims for independence for...
- Insurgent groups in Northeast IndiaInsurgent groups in Northeast IndiaVarious groups are involved in the Insurgency in Northeast India, India's north east states, which are connected to the rest of India by a narrow strip of land known as the Siliguri Corridor. Much of the region is notably ethnically and linguistically different from the rest of India. In the region...
- Tripura Baptist Christian UnionTripura Baptist Christian UnionThe Tripura Baptist Christian Union is the largest protestant church body in the Indian state of Tripura. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. It has been found lending support to the banned terrorist organization, NLFT.-History:...
- Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura
- List of terrorist organisations in India
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 PoliceTripura PoliceTripura Police is responsible for policing activities in the state of TripuraThe Tripura Police is often applauded across the Indian Nation for its modest approach towards a common man. Its regarded to be one of the most disciplined state police forces in India...