National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT- SD) Signs Memorandum of Settlement
A Memorandum of Settlement was signed on 10th of August, 2019 by the Government of India, Govt. of Tripura and National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD).
Memorandum of Settlement
- NLFT (SD) has agreed to abjure the path of violence and join the mainstream and abide by the Constitution of India.
- NLFT (SD) has agreed to the surrender its 88 cadres with their weapons.
- The surrendered cadres are to be given surrender benefits as per the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, 2018 of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The State Government of Tripura will aid the surrendered cadres in housing, recruitment, education etc.
- The Government of India will consider the proposals of Tripura State Government regarding the economic development of tribal areas of Tripura.
National Liberation Front of Twipra
The National Liberation Front of Twipra is a Tripuri nationalist militant organisation based in Tripura, India. It seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state and is an active participant in the Insurgency in Northeast India.
The NLFT was born in 1989 with the backing of the Baptist Church of Tripura aftermath of one of the worst ethnic riots. Even though its constitution makes no mention of any specific religion and claims to extend membership to “any person irrespective of caste, sex or creed, NLFT has been described as engaging in terrorist violence motivated by their Christian beliefs. It is also said that NLFT wants to expand what they describe as the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ in Tripura.
NLFT which advocates armed rebellion claims to represent the indigenous population which it claims has been marginalised by “the subjugation policy of imperialist Hindustani (India)”. The NLFT is listed as a terrorist organisation in the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002.
Over the last three decades owing to internal contraindications and conflicts, NLFT has been broken down into a number of factions and NLFT-SD is one such faction.
