SUMMARY

BLTF (Bodo Liberation Tiger Force) was a separatist insurgent group which was active in the state of Assam in north-eastern India. The group has also been known as BLT (Bodo Liberation Tigers), at an earlier stage of its existence.

BLTF was founded in 1996 by one Prem Singh Brahma, to ‘safeguard’ the interests of the Bodo people in Assam. The Bodo ethnic group is of tribal origin (comprised of several sub-tribal groups), having their main settlements in the plains of Assam north of the Brahmaputra River, which flows through the entirety of the state of Assam. The main political grievances of the general Bodo population relate to perceived cultural and political neglect and discrimination, economical underdevelopment and issues of land expropriation by immigrants. Much like the majority population of Assam (the Ahoms) the Bodos have been put under severe demographic and economic pressure by the massive influx of Bengali immigrants/refugees fleeing the armed conflict for Bangladeshi independence in 1971. BLTF sought to establish the area of Bodoland as a separate state for Bodos (within India), and also to include the Bodo ethnic group in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution, which would grant them more powers of self-government. They differ here from the agenda of NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland), which seeks an independent and sovereign Bodo state. These differences have spawned animosity between the two groups, to some extent also along religious lines since BLTF is primarily Hindu and NDFB primarily Christian.

In fighting for more self-governance for the Bodo people BLTF has made use not only of attacks on security forces, but also one-sided violence against civilians. The group was disbanded in 2003, when thousands of its cadres surrendered after a peace agreement was signed with the Indian government, stipulating amongst other things the creation of a Bodoland council which will administer tribal areas.

Not much is known about BLTF’s links to other groups and outside states. It is believed that the group maintained some bases in Bhutan when it was active, and the group is also believed to have had strong ties to BSMC (Bodo State Movement Council); an ethnically based political party in the area.

The movement was founded by Prem Singh Brahma. The last leader was Hagrama Basumatary, who later became the Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council.

BLTF has been involved in the one-sided category of UCDP organised violence.