Agreement Between the Center, NLFT, and ATTF

Updated : 5th Sep 2024

Agreement Between the Center, NLFT, and ATTF

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the central government, the Tripura government, and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on September 4, 2024, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha.
This marks the 12th peace agreement signed with militant groups in Northeast India since the Modi government came to power in 2014. So far, around 10,000 militants have surrendered their arms and joined the national mainstream.

Tripura became a part of India on October 15, 1949, when the ruler of the Tripura kingdom signed the Instrument of Accession.
At that time, Tripura was a predominantly tribal state. However, with the influx of Bengali people from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), the demographic structure of the state changed, leading to the tribal population gradually becoming a minority.
According to the 2011 Census, the tribal population in Tripura had reduced to just 31.8%. This led to a struggle among the tribal community to preserve their identity and rights, resulting in conflicts between the tribal and non-tribal (Bengali) populations.
By the 1960s, some tribal groups began armed rebellions. The first insurgent group was Senkrak, which demanded Tripura's independence. In 1978, B.K. Hrangkhawl founded a larger tribal insurgent group called the Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), demanding an independent Tripura. However, in 1988, the TNV signed a peace agreement with the government and abandoned violence.
Following this, in 1989, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and in 1990, the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) were formed. These groups demanded an independent Tripura and opposed the presence of non-tribal Bengalis in the state, resulting in prolonged violence and conflict.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed in New Delhi, both insurgent groups have agreed to abandon their demand for an independent Tripura and integrate into the national mainstream.
Around 328 members of these groups will surrender their arms, the organizations will be disbanded, and they will participate in the democratic process.