Agartala, July 2: The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), led till recently by Biswamohan Debbarma, is once again on the verge of a split over the issue of leadership.
The removal of Biswamohan Debbarma from the post of president last month created cracks in the group. The change of guard was effected at a meeting held in the house of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Rais Mia in the neighbouring country. After being removed, Biswamohan and his followers, who had been charged with corruption and inefficiency, floated a parallel group.
They set up two camps in the remote Damcherra area bordering Mizoram in North Tripura and in Bangladesh. Sources said the camps were set up by Biswamohan to counter any possible attack from the new leaders of the NLFT.
The sources said resentment against Biswamohan and his close aides, Kamini Debbarma, Bishuprasad Jamatya and others, had been steadily growing in the NLFT over the issue of funds, favouritism shown to Tripuri tribesmen and the failure to stem the tide of surrender of militants.
NLFT commanders of the Halam tribe, Mantu Koloi, Tapan Koloi and Dhanu Koloi, joined hands to oust Biswamohan from the top post. They also forced a change of guard in the Autonomous District Council in May. Formed in April 1989, the NLFT suffered its first split in 1993 when Tripuri tribesmen ousted Dhananjay Reang from the top slot. In January 2001, senior commander Nayanabasi Jamatya left the outfit with his followers in protest against the corrupt practices of a section of leaders and domination of Tripuri tribesmen.
Rebels surrender
Four hardcore militants belonging to three different outfits surrendered before the army in Imphal today. The rebels laid down arms and ammunition at a simple function organised at the newly-constructed auditorium of the Leimakhong army camp on the outskirts of the city, reports our Imphal correspondent.
Joy Naga, self-styled sergeant of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), James Chakesang, member of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, Richard Kuki and Romi Kuki, both from the Kuki National Front (Zougam), laid down arms before Brig. V.K. Batura, Commander of the 59 mountain brigade.
The militants deposited a nine-mm carbine, two nine-mm pistols, a .38 revolver and assorted ammunition. While Richard Kuki hails from Phaizol village in Assam’s Cachar district, the rest are from Manipur’s Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel districts. The four were trained at camps in Jiribam and Chandel in Manipur and Mon district in Nagaland.
On May 24, two NSCN (K) rebels had surrendered before Brig. Batura. The surrendered militants, whose faces were masked, told reporters that they had decided to give up jungle life because they wanted to lead normal lives.
