End of Insurgency in Tripura with a historic peace deal in New Delhi

In a symbolic end to the menace of insurgency in Tripura, two insurgent groups—the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF)—signed an agreement with the central and state governments and agreed to lay down their arms. 

The insurgency, which started in the state in the sixties, now has no active insurgent groups.   

Where was the agreement signed?

The agreement between the leaders of the NLFT and ATTF  was signed with the central government and the state group in New Delhi on 4 September 2024.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Amit Shah, the Union Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cooperation, and Dr Manik Saha, the Chief Minister of Tripura.

Feature of the agreement 

Under the memorandum of understanding signed in New Delhi, the two insurgent groups have given up their demand for an Independent state of Tripura and agreed to join the national mainstream. 

Around 328 cadres of the two groups will lay down their arms, and the two organisations will be disbanded and join the democratic process.

The agreement in Tripura is the 12th such agreement signed with the insurgent groups in the North Eastern states after the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014. Around 10,000 militants have given up their arms and joined the National mainstream.

About Insurgency in Tripura 

The princely state of Tripura joined India on 15 October 1949 after its ruler signed the Instrument of Accession Act.

• Tripura was a tribal-majority state, but the continuous migration of the Bengali population from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, altered the state’s population composition and made the tribals a minority.
• According to the 2011 census, 31.8 per cent of the state population were tribals.
• Soon, a movement emerged amongst the tribals to protect their identity, which led to violent clashes between the tribal and non-tribal populations in the state.
• Armed militant tribal groups emerged in Tripura in the 1960s. The first tribal insurgent group, SENKRAK, demanded an independent country. 
• B.K. Hrangkhawal founded a major insurgent tribal group, Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), in 1978, demanding an independent country of Tripura for the tribals. 
• The TNV signed a peace agreement with the government in 1988 and laid down its arms.
• The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was formed in 1989, and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) was established in 1990. Both are tribal groups that demanded Tripura's independence from India and opposed the non-tribals in the state.

About Tripura 

The princely state of Tripura joined the India on 15 October 1949. It was made a Union Territory on 1 September 1956 and a State on 21 January 1972.

Tripura shares borders with Bangladesh, Mizoram, and Assam. 

The state is surrounded by Bangladesh, and its international border is 856 km (84 per cent of its total border).

Capital: Agartala

Chief Minister : Manik Saha