Tripura: With No money and No weapons, the Freedom Fighters outfit NLFT is on its last legs

Banned militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura is on its last legs as it faces several challenges on multiple fronts, an Assam Rifles source told East Mojo in an exclusive conversation.

Dwindling finances, lack of support among residents and multi-layered security arrangements in areas prone to militancy have made it a tough challenge for the ultras to continue the armed insurgency.
NLFT has two factions. The major group, with about 40 rebels, is the Biswa Mohan Faction, known as the NLFT (BM). The second group is the NLFT (PD) or Parmal Dibarma Faction, which has about 15 to 20 cadres. The self-proclaimed leader of the PD faction, Parmal Debbarma, was arrested in Mizoram last year. A case is pending against him in Khoi District Court.
When asked about their prospects of revival, the source said, “Extortion was the main source of financing for militant activities. These insurgent groups once left the era of terror in the hilly areas.” This was what prompted people to give in to the demands of militant groups. But now the situation has changed. All major market areas are surrounded by security institutions like police stations, or camps of paramilitary forces like Assam Rifles, TSR, CRPF or BSF. The fear of kidnapping is already ingrained in local communities, which is why extortion notices fail to elicit a response from targets.
The current cadre strength is less than 10 percent of the total armed force when the insurgency in Tripura was at its peak.

“We are monitoring the movements of the rebel groups, and our sources keep contacting them to convince them. We want all the cadres to come down to earth and lead a peaceful life. Many of them are militants. have wives and children at home. And, in recent times, many have laid down arms and ammunition before the Assam Rifles to join mainstream life,” the source pointed out.

The NLFT is one of the main militant groups in Agartala that launched an armed insurgency against the state with a call for an independent Tripuri state. The group is responsible for several killings, kidnappings and ambushes on security forces.