Central Government Sanctions ₹250 Crore for Former NLFT and ATF Members in Tripura
8 Aug, Agartala — In a historic milestone for the northeast, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday declared the state “insurgency-free”, after 584 cadres of the NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) laid down their arms in a formal surrender ceremony.
The surrender followed a tripartite peace accord signed between the Centre, the state government and the two rebel outfits in New Delhi on September 4 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Officials described the accord as a “confluence point” in Tripura’s four-decade fight against militancy.
“Development is not possible without peace. Today, we can confidently say that Tripura is free from extremism,”
Saha told a gathering at the headquarters of the Tripura State Rifles battalion in Sepahijla district, where a large quantity of arms and ammunition were formally handed over. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah for leading 12 peace agreements with rebel groups across the Northeast, three of which are from Tripura.
The Centre has approved a special rehabilitation package of Rs 250 crore for former militants. Under the scheme, each surrendering cadre will get a monthly allowance of Rs 6,000 for three years, skill training in various professions and Rs 4 lakh will be deposited in a specific account, which will be available after three years.
NLFT chief Biswamohan Debbarma has announced that the organisation will be formally dissolved soon with a ceremonial “flag down” ceremony.
The NLFT was formed in 1989, followed by the ATTF in 1990. Both groups waged violent campaigns demanding independence for Tripura’s tribal population, resulting in thousands of deaths and decades of instability. Security experts said Tuesday’s mass surrender ends a dark chapter in the state’s history, ushering in what leaders are calling “a new era of peace and development” for the region.
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