Peace In The North-East: Tripura Terror Outfit Signs Memorandum To Give Up Arms, Cadre To Join Mainstream 

A Tripura-centred terror outfit, the National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD) has signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the Government of India and Government of Tripura to give up violence and join the mainstream.

The Memorandum of Settlement was signed by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary (North East) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Kumar Alok, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Tripura and Sabir Kumar Debbarma and Kajal Debbarma of the NLFT (SD).

As per the deal, the NLFT (SD) has agreed to abide by the Constitution of India and to abjure the path of violence to join the mainstream. Peace talks with NLFT were initiated in 2015 and there has been no violence by NLFT since 2016.

The NLFT is a banned outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 1997 and has been involved in violence, operating from their camps across the international border.

The terror group had been responsible for violent activities including 317 insurgency incidents in which 28 security forces and 62 civilians lost their lives during the period 2005-2015, a press release by the government said. However, the group has now agreed to the surrender of its 88 cadres with their weapons.

The surrendered cadres will be given surrender benefits as per the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, 2018 of the Ministry of Home Affairs while the state government will help the surrendered cadres in housing, recruitment, education etc. The Indian government will also take up suggestions from the state government to take up projects for development of tribal areas.