Incidents and Statements involving NLFT: 2015

Date

Nature of incident

January 1

NS

Chikha and Tuipuibari/Mamit

Suspected NLFT and Bru militants abducted two individuals identified as Hokum Singh and Mohammad Buizul Islam, working under the BRTF from at Chikha and Tuipuibari village in Mamit District. Around 10 militants, some of them armed with sophisticated weapons, first abducted 22 people. Later, they released the locals and manual workers, but took the two as hostage.

NS

NLFT 'leader' Krishnamohan Jamatia believed to have led the raid in which 2 GREF workers were abducted on February 2.. Police, Assam Rifles and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) have been put on alert in Kanchanpur in North Tripura District.

West Phaileng/Mamit

Police stated that almost a week after two employees of BRTF were abducted by suspected NLFT militant, , a ransom has been demanded for their release. The abductors informed the BRTF officials posted in Mizoram-Bangladesh border's West Phaileng village in Mamit District

NS

Mohammad Buizul Islam, one of the two persons abducted by NLFT and BDFM was released. He was released at an unspecified location near the India Bangladesh border. The abductors had first demanded INR 1.5 million as ransom but later reduced it to INR 500000 and ten ladies wrist watches.

NLFT-BM has written to MHA seeking peace talks. Highly-placed intelligence sources here said the letter from NLFT-BM 'chairman' Biswamohan Debbarma had reached the UMHA in New Delhi and the matter was under consideration. The Bangladesh Government''s hostility and efforts to drive them out of its territory had left the NLFT-BM no option but to seek an honourable settlement through surrender adds the report.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, replying to a question on militant formations operating in the state, informed the State Assembly that approximately 80 to 100 militants are left in NLFT-BM.

NS

NLFT leader Biswamohan is sheltered in NSCN-K camp in Myanmar.

NLFT-BM would hold tripartite talks with GoI and Tripura Government on April 4. An official stated that "A tripartite meeting between officials of the central and Tripura governments and leaders of NLFT militant group is likely to be held in Shillong on April 4".A top Tripura State Government official stated that "NLFT led by its self-styled chief Biswamohan Debbarma expressed its willingness to the central government a few months back to hold talks.

A tripartite meeting was held at Shillong in East Khasi Hills District, between representatives of NLFT-BM, Government of India (GoI) and Tripura State Government. The Tripura Government gave positive response. According to report the State Government was represented by DG, K. Nagaraj and secretary tribal welfare department L. Darlong, GoI was represented by two senior officials of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NLFT was by Utpal Debbarma, Kajal Debbarma and Karna Debbarma.In the meeting it was discussed to create a road map for surrender of NLFT, in the next meeting it will be discussed however the date for next meeting was not finalized.

A NLFT militant, identified as Prabathari Jamatia surrendered to the BSF, after escaping from camp in Bangladesh, at Chaplingcherra Border outpost in Nutan Bazar in South Tripura District. He handed over a 9-mm pistol, one magazine and one 36 HE grenade. Police said Prabathari joined NLFT in 1998 but surrendered on 2004. He again joined NLFT in 2007.

West Tripura

Top 'commander' of undivided NLFT, Athurbabu Halam (41), accompanied by two other lay rebels, and is on the point of laying down arms to State Police in a remote corner of the state close to border with Chittagong hill-tracts of Bangladesh.

West Tripura

Deputy Chief of the army staff' of NLFT, Athurbabu Halam (41), accompanied by two other militants before Director General of Police K. Nagraj in the state Police Headquarters located in Agratala. Two other militants were identified, 'sergeant major' Uttam Kumar Jamatia alias Wathui and 'corporal' of NLFT Krishna Mohan Debbarma alias Kiting.

Khagrachari/ Bangladesh

NLFT-BM 'sergeant' Mangal Debbarma has killed fellow NLFT militant Shanti Lal Tripura at Khagrapur village in Khagrachari District. The slain militant played the role of a mediator in the surrender of Athara Babu Halam, "deputy chief of army staff" of NLFT on May 9.

The BSF arrested three militants of NLFT, when they were crossing Bangladesh border along Gobindabari frontier in Longtarai valley in Dhalai district. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nepal Das said, "The tribal guerillas, aged 20 to 23-year-olds, were caught when they were coming from a hideout in Bangladesh on Wednesday night," he added.

West Tripura

The NLFT-BM is disintegrating fast, a youth from West Tripura district, who was tricked into joining the banned outfit in April and managed to flee the clutches of the militants recently, has revealed so. The youth identified as Sanjit Debbarma, (20), a Class VIII dropout, and son of impoverished tribal farmer Chandra Mohan Debbarma of Daodharani village under Sidhai Police Station of Sadar (north) subdivision, left home after he was promised employment and a good, regular earning by a group of tribal youths from two nearby villages.

CM Manik Sarkar asked Union Government to strongly persuade the government of Bangladesh for total dismantling of hideouts of the Northeastern militants, along with freezing of the militant leaders bank accounts, reports. Manik Sarkar expressed apprehension about the Biswamohan Debbarma faction of NLFT-BM militants sheltering in 16 camps across the Indo-Bangladesh border. Three of these camps are near the border and attacks are mounted on the Indian side from there, he said. "Some recent incidents in other parts of the region indicate that they are trying to revive their cadres under a common umbrella and launch a massive attack on security forces," the CM said.

CM Manik Sarkar also gave a proposal for constructive dialogue with the misguided tribal youths, especially youths associated with banned outfit of Tripura, NLFT-BM. Addressing the meeting of the chief ministers of the Northeastern States on security and development with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Guwahati, Sarkar said NLFT-BM extremists are still hiding across the border, which is major source of threat for peace and harmony in the North East state.

CM Manik Sarkar added that so far two rounds of talks have been held with NLFT. Despite the ongoing peace process, NLFT-BM militants have been constantly trying to revive and rejuvenate their shattered organization. They are also trying to enroll new youths and continue their extortion activities, said Sarkar. Chief Minister also gave a proposal to revive the rehabilitation packages, which was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2005.

South Tripura and Dhalai

Two NLFT 'commanders' identified as Sunil Mohan Tripura and Jatanjay Tripura surrendered in South Tripura and Dhalai Districts. An AK-56 assault rifle, 17 rounds of magazine and two grenades were deposited by the surrendered militants.

NS

UMHA rejected NLFT 'president' Biswamohan Debbarma's plea for conditional surrender and mediation on their behalf by former Mizoram chief minister Zoram Thanga and former TNV 'supremo' and INPT MLA Bijay Kumar Hrangkhwal.

NS

CM Manik Sarkar stated that "As far as I know, two rounds of discussions have taken place between NLFT officials of Union home ministry and the state government in Delhi and Shillong. Some progress has been made and I hope it will reach a positive conclusion,". He also added that at one point, NLFT had a large number of camps and hideouts in Bangladesh and used to operate in Tripura through trans-border movement. He also added that "According to our information, NLFT still has 16 hideouts in remote hilly areas of Bangladesh bordering Myanmar and we hope the Bangladesh government will try to dismantle these residual hideouts too".

Tripura CM Manik Sarkar said that "Officials of Union Home Ministry, central intelligence bodies and Tripura government have already held two rounds of talks during the past six months with the NLFT in Delhi and Shillong," "NLFT wanted ceasefire before the peace talks proceeded. But the state government did not accept it. In the last six months, the outfit has issued subscription notice and made kidnap bids even though the talks were on," Sarkar alleged.

NLFT abducted two tribals from Maldakumarpara tribal hamlet under Ganganagar Police Station in Dhalai District near the CHT of Bangladesh. A group of seven ultras armed with automatic weapons initially kidnapped three tribals, identified as Shantijoy Tripura, Manojoy Tripura and Dhanojoy Tripura, and later freed Dhanojoy with a ransom notice for release of the two captives.

Kanchanpur subdivision / North Tripura

Police arrested two NLFT cadres, identified as Kanendra Debbarma and Binduram Tripura, while they were crossing over Indo-Bangla border through Kanchanpur subdivision in North Tripura District.

Sutarmura area / Bishalgarh Police Station / Sipahijala

Based on their statement, Police arrested another NLFT cadre, identified as Rajesh Debbarma from Sutarmura area under Bishalgarh Police Station in Sipahijala District later on the day. Sources said that in course of preliminary investigation, Police have come to know about two more NLFT cadres who are staying in hideouts across the border.

Balukdupi / Basistha Police Station / Kamrup District

Two suspected NLFT cadres, identified as Kamalesh Jamatia and Manoj Koloy, and a leader of Meghalaya-based outlawed group, UALA, were arrested at Balukdupi under Basistha Police Station in Kamrup District of Assam. Although Kamalesh, a dreaded NLFT cadre, surrendered before Police way back in 2011, he went to jungle once again. Kamalesh's arrest by Assam Police has virtually confirmed his close association with the outlawed NLFT and UALA. Manoj, who used to stay in Assam and Meghalaya, is a well known arms dealer.

West Tripura

The Additional District and Sessions Court, West Tripura found three NLFT cadres guilty in Jarulbachi massacre under section 302, 120 (B) and 27 Arms Act. Three guilty insurgents include Mangal Debabarma, Falguni Debbarma and Binoy Debbarma. The quantum of punishment would be declared by Additional District and Sessions judge Udit Chowdhury on December 4.

In the second phase, trial was conducted against six NLFT militants but the court acquitted three persons due to lack of substantial evidence. However, the court on December 1 found three NLFT militants- Madan, Falguni and Binoy guilty in the massacre in which 15 innocent villagers died and six more were injured.

Salbagan

Number of insurgent hideouts has been reduced in Bangladesh although some groups are still functioning there, said IG, BSF Tripura Frontier MF Farooque. Some developments have taken place in Bangladesh since the BSF is having good relation with its Bangladesh counterpart- BGB leading to decline in the militant hideout there, he said while speaking to media at Salbagan, BSF Tripura Frontier headquarters in Agartala.

"It's now very difficult for the ultras to operate from the neighbouring country. We are in touch with the BGB to address the problem", he said. According to latest inputs, the banned outfit- NLFT has 12/15 camps in Bangladesh. On the progress of border fencing, the IG said there are various problems in completing the fencing work along the Indo-Bangla border.

Agartala

Two NLFT militants, Falguni Debbarma and Binay Debbarma, who were found guilty in Jarualbachai massacre (February 11, 1997), were pronounced life-term rigorous imprisonment by a local court in Agartala. The Additional District and Sessions court also slapped fine of INR 30,000 each failing which they will have to face 18 months rigorous imprisonment extra. In the verdict, Judge Udit Chowdhury also clarified that life-term rigorous imprisonment should at last 20 years.

West Tripura

Additional District and Sessions Court in West Tripura found three NLFT cadres, Mangal Debabarma, Falguni Debbarma and Binoy Debbarma, guilty in the 1997 Jarulbachai massacre in West Tripura District. In the second phase, trial was conducted against six NLFT militants but the court acquitted three persons due to lack of substantial evidence.

Earlier, the then Additional District and Sessions Judge Subhash Bhattacharjee had given capital punishment to Achak Debbarma while life term rigorous imprisonment was awarded to Gandhi Debbarma for killing of 15 innocent villagers. While Achak's execution is pending with the Supreme Court, another convict is still absconding.