Incidents and Statements involving NLFT: 2016

Date

Nature of incident

January 4

Tripura

Tripura

With the Village Committee polls drawing close, political violence has been growing in Tripura. Two IPFT workers, Amal Debbarma and Padma Debbarma kidnapped local CPI-M worker Arjun Garh from Rabichandra para area of Barkathal under Sidhai Police station. According to reports, Police is trying to rescue Arjun Garh from IPFT's custody.

Sources in the CPI -M expressed concern over the activities of IPFT in different parts of the state, saying in the year 2000 this party had reduced the ADC election to a farce with the active help of banned NLFT militants who had kidnapped CPIM leaders and poll candidates. 'This will not be possible now, but IPFT is indulging in violence after realizing their imminent defeat in the upcoming polls' said sources.

Kanchanpur subdivision / North Tripura District

Twelve top NLFT militants surrendered to the SP, Special Branch (intelligence wing), Arindam Nath, in remote Sewarampara border outpost of the BSF under Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura District. The militants, who had fled the NLFT camp at Satcherri under Rangamati District in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh on April 8, had trekked through hilly terrain to reach the BSF outpost and got in touch with Nath. Shortly after receiving the call, Nath got in touch with the BSF authorities and rushed to the outpost to facilitate the surrender. The militants have been identified as Tarani Mohan Tripura, Holongsa Tripura, Benoy Tripura, Laxmijay Tripura, Bijay Debbarma, Mrityunjay Asalong, Kusum Tripura, Debsingh Reang, Majayram Reang, Kushirai Reang, Upendra Reang and Jatanjoy Reang. They deposited an AK-47 assault rifle, an automatic SLR, an SLR, an INSAS rifle, a G-3 rifle, two grenades, 12 magazines and 369 rounds of ammunition.

Kanchanpur subdivision / North Tripura District

Three cadres of the NLFT, who recently escaped from their base camp in Chittagong Hill Tract of neighbouring Bangladesh, surrendered to Police at Kanchanpur subdivision in North Tripura District. The surrendered cadres informed the Police that many of their colleagues were trying to leave the camp to return to normal life, sources said.

North Tripura District

Six militants of the NLFT, who fled from their base camp in Chittagong Hill Tract in neighbouring Bangladesh, surrendered before Police. Police said the militants led by self-styled 'lieutenant', Ganthachran Rupini surrendered before Police at Bhandarima, a remote tribal hamlet in North Tripura District. They deposited two wireless sets during surrender. The insurgents told interrogators that the outfit was facing financial difficulties. Besides, frequent raids by Bangladeshi SFs in their camps were making it difficult for the outfit to use the foreign soil, Police said.

ATTF supremo Ranjit Debbarma expressed his willingness to bring his former rival group, NLFT, to the negotiating table. "This is the right time to work together to make Tripura a model state," Debbarma said, after released from jail. Expressing full faith in the Indian judicial system, Ranjit said, "I got justice today." He had been charged with carnage, waging terror against the state, mass killing and arms act violation.

Tripura

The tripartite peace talks involving the banned militant outfit, NLFT, Tripura Government and the UMHA hit a stone-wall with outfit's 'president' Biswamohan Debbarma having gone "missing". Official sources in the special branch (intelligence wing) of State Police said the presence of Debbarma had been sought by the Tripura Government and the matter had been communicated to the UMHA officials engaged in the talks with three representatives of the NLFT, who had attended two rounds of talks last year (2015). But the outfit has not yet indicated Debbarma's position on the issue or whether he would at all appear for the talks.

Five militants of the NLFT after escaping from their hideout in Bangladesh, surrendered to the Tripura Police at a remote BOP in North Tripura District. The militants, led by their 'self-styled corporal' Bisurai Debbarma (33), along with other cadres, Hiralal Tripura, Jalaska Tripura, Rambadal Tripura and Kantamani Tripura surrendered on Thursday (October 13) night, Tripura Police spokesman Uttam Kumar Bhowmik said. "The tribal extremists fled from their clandestine camp at Thangnang (under Rangamati District of Chittagong Hill Tract of southeast Bangladesh) and crossed over to India on Wednesday (October 12) night," said SP-Special Branch, Arindam Nath, to whom the rebels surrendered. They also deposited some electronic gadgets and incriminating documents with the Police.

Aged between 27 and 33, the militants told the Police that they fled from the NLFT camp in Bangladesh out of frustration and miserable conditions. According to them, more NLFT cadres from Bangladesh are likely to surrender. Over the past six months, 33 NLFT rebels with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition have surrendered to the Tripura Police after escaping from their hideouts in Bangladesh.

Agartala / West Tripura District

A frontline activist of the NLFT, identified as Karajoy Reang (28) alias Karka of Kharisapara surrendered without arms before SP-Special Branch at Agartala in West Tripura District. He fled away from NLFT headquarters at Sapchari under Rangamati District of South Bangladesh following severe crisis of food and resources due to strong action by the SFs of India and Bangladesh. Reang had joined NLFT in 2010 and was a listed member of NLFT. During preliminary interrogation, Reang divulged that before surrendering he was at Bangladesh camp. Due to frustration on the extremist life and miserable condition in NLFT camps in Bangladesh Reang decided to surrender.

NS

The KLO observed its 'martyrs day' at 'United Base Camp' at an undisclosed location. Apart from Jiban Singh Koch( Singha Koch), the self styled 'chairman' of KLO, permanent founder members of the UNLFW, 'commander-in-chief (c-in-c) 'general' Kumchok and deputy 'c-in-c' 'lieutenant general' Niki Sumi of NSCN-K, JK Lijang 'president' PDCK, 'president' B Saoraigwra and 'general secretary' BR Ferengga of NDFB-IKS, Suchin Borok, 'organizing secretary' of NLFT, 'captain' Litpa Meitei of KYKL, 'captain' Mani Meitei of KCP were present in the meeting according to the report.