Agartala, Sept 23: More than 400 militants from the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) are preparing to surrender their weapons in a ceremony scheduled for this week. This follows a peace accord signed on September 4 involving the central government, Tripura government, and the two groups, marking one of the largest surrenders in the region.
The event will occur at a Tripura State Rifles battalion headquarters in Jampuijala, potentially as early as Tuesday. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah was expected to attend, his busy schedule may prevent him from doing so, with Chief Minister Manik Saha likely to take his place.
As part of the agreement, the militants have agreed to abandon violence and disband their organizations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has allocated Rs 250 crore for rehabilitation, which includes a monthly payment of Rs 6,000 for each surrendered militant for three years, alongside training and job support in fields such as agriculture and rural development.
This surrender is anticipated to greatly diminish the nearly fifty-year insurgency in Tripura, which has seen violence from the NLFT and ATTF. Both groups have been prohibited under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act since 1997 due to their violent activities resulting in numerous casualties.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been focused on securing peace in the Northeast, signing over 12 accords in the last five years, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed, conflict-free region and facilitating the integration of former militants into society.
