SUMMARY
NLFT does not only attack government and state security forces in its struggle for an independent Tripura (see GOvernment of India - NFLT, but also resorts to attacks on civilians, abductions and criminal activities such as extortion.
NLFT's incompatibility with the Government of India concerns not only territory; NLFT is also hostile towards the existence within Tripura of Bengali-speaking settlers, viewed by the group as illegal occupiers of tribal lands. They are thus seen as legitimate targets for attack so as to rid Tripura of these ‘settlers’ and to protect tribal culture from external elements. To further these goals NLFT has attacked Bengali-speaking villages and farmers, and ambushed buses carrying Bengali laborers and other civilians.
A second type of civilian targets are activists and supporters of those political parties that are not aligned to NLFT, or covertly support other Tripuran insurgent groups. In order to secure a legitimate political front in the democratic sphere of Tripura politics NLFT has abducted and killed such political ‘enemies’ in attempts to secure victory for its allies in tribal council and assembly elections. Reportedly NLFT has links to the INPT and Congress parties, and thus strikes against the rivals of these two parties; the Left Front alliance and the CPI-Maoist (Communist Party of India-Maoist)
Many civilians are also killed by NLFT after being abducted for reasons of ransom and extortion. This category of targets includes not only Bengali-speakers, but also tribals. In the same category it is possible to locate many civilian residents of Tripura that appear to be killed in a campaign of sheer terror. The campaign includes a widespread use of rape, sexual abuse, and forced conversions to Christianity.
A last category of targets are ex-NLFT members, who are killed for having abandoned the movement.
NLFT first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1996, when the one-sided violence resulted in at least 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in December that year when the group attacked civilians who were sleeping at a marketplace in Kalyanpur town.
