NLTF Defects to bangladesh

NLFT pro-talk lea defects to Bangladesh, Jan 12 — In a big blow to Centre’s peace initiative in the North-east, a top leader of the pro-talk faction of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) Nayan Bashi Jamatia has formed a new outfit Integrated Freedom Movement Organisation of Twipra (IFMOT) before converting to Christianity and crossing over to neighbouring Bangladesh.What has sent alarm bells ringing in the Home Ministry was the threat by Nayan Bashi, who has changed his name to Nokbar Jamatia after embracing Christianity, to persuade other militant outfits including ULFA, NDFB, Biswa Mohan faction of NLFT, HNLC, KYKL, PREPAK, KLO among others not to come forward for talks with Government of India because it betrayed them. It was with much enthusiasm that Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil announced on the floor of the Lok Sabha, the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with Nayan Bashi faction of the NLFT. The MoS came with a special package of Rs 55 crore for economic development of the tribal areas after months of negotiations between Government of India, Tripura Government and NLFT pro-talk faction.However on the eve of the formal surrender ceremony, the peace process was dealt a severe jolt, when Nayan Bashi Jamatia fled to Bangladesh before denouncing the MoS. The NLFT faction led by Jamatia signed tripartite MoS on December 17 after meeting the Union Home Minister here.At least 138 members of the outfit have already surrendered arms though Nayan Bashi rejected the agreement and left for Bangladesh. The cadres surrendered 14 weapons including AK 47 and 56 rifles and 493 rounds of ammunition. “Union Home Minister had assured to continue the dialogue to find a political settlement. But instead a development package worth Rs 55 crore and rehabilitation of the surrendered militants and luxurious life with three vehicles to each leader was what was given,” Jamatia alleged through a communication.“The NLFT-NB did not come to surrender but came for negotiated political solution. The surrender ceremony was aimed to defame and humiliate Nokbar Jamatia. The IFMOT vows to fight for decades to achieve its objective,” the leader stated. Interestingly, the leader was full of praise for BJP president, L.K.Advani, who was the former deputy Prime Minister. “I met Sri Advani in April and he had agreed to fulfil the demands made by NLFT-NB. I signed the ceasefire agreement on that day after holding talks with Home Secretary,” Jamatia claimed.The Centre suspects that the Jamatia was lured into a trap by intelligence agency of Bangladesh and even paid substantial amount to reject the peace process and continue with the armed struggle. Bangladesh Government has reportedly given him political asylum.Unfazed, the controversial militant leader has now trained his guns on the four leaders who signed the MoS with Government of India on December 25. Bichindra Debbarma alias Buchuk Borok, Annan Jamatia alias Bartholomai Borok, Dilip Debbarma alias Daniel Borok and Dio Molsom alias Salka Borok were declared as traitors and it was alleged that they were lured by promise of large sums of money. “The four traitors have been expelled from the newly founded IFMOT and they would be arrested and produced before the Royal Military Council and if convicted they would punished with two year jail term under the supervision of Royal Borok Army,” the militant leader stated.Formed in 1989, the NLFT, which has so far split three times on tribal and religious lines, was banned in 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1997. Of the three factions of NLFT, the one headed by Biswamohan Debbarma is considered the most powerful. It is yet to respond to Delhi’s offer of talks.This group has an estimated strength of about 550 cadres with bases in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The other outfits the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).Officials here said that they considered having signed the MoS with NB faction of the NLFT and would go ahead and implement the MoS. The package included development projects besides promise to withdraw the pending cases against the cadres and rehabilitation measures.What is however, worrying agencies here is that Jamatia still controls the armoury and holds sway among majority of the cadres.