A significant peace agreement is expected to be signed today in New Delhi between the Central Government, the Tripura State Government, and two prominent insurgent groups—the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
According to an official announcement, the Memorandum of Settlement will be formalized in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Tripura government. The signing ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the North Block.
This agreement follows a similar pact signed on August 10, 2019, between the Central Government, the Tripura government, and a faction of the NLFT. Following that agreement, 88 NLFT members surrendered their arms and were reintegrated into society with the assistance of the Tripura government. These former insurgents received benefits under the MHA’s 2018 Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, including support in housing, job placements, education, and skill development.
Both the NLFT and ATTF have been designated as terrorist organizations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 1997 due to their involvement in violent activities, particularly across the International Border. These groups were responsible for numerous insurgency incidents between 2005 and 2015, resulting in the loss of many lives, both civilian and military.
Since peace talks with the NLFT commenced in 2015, there has been a notable reduction in violence, with no major incidents reported since 2016.
The Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized that this accord aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the northeastern region into a zone of peace and development, free from extremism. Under Modi’s leadership, the government has signed 12 key agreements aimed at bringing stability and prosperity to the northeast, with three of these pacts specifically benefiting Tripura.
Through these agreements, nearly 10,000 insurgents across various northeastern states, including Assam and Tripura, have renounced violence and rejoined mainstream society.
