Centre declares NLFT, ATTF and their factions 'unlawful associations'

The central government on Tuesday declared the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and all of their factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations for a period of five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the announcement through a notification declaring that the order will come into effect from October 3, 2023. The MHA’s move comes after its consideration that the NLFT, the ATTF and their factions’ professed aim is to establishment an independent nation by secession of Tripura from India through armed struggle in alliance with other armed secessionist organisations of Tripura and to incite indigenous people of Tripura for such secession. It was also observed that the NLFT and the ATTF have been engaging in “subversive and violent activities, thereby undermining the authority of the government and spreading terror and violence among the people to achieve their objectives”. “The two groups were also maintaining close nexus with other unlawful association of North East with the aim of mobilising their support,” the notification stated. According to the MHA, the two organisations and their factions in pursuance of their aims and objectives in recent past engaged in violent and unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Besides, the two organisations and their factions are involved in the killing of civilians and personnel belonging to the police and security forces as well as engaged in extortion of funds from the public including businessmen and traders in Tripura. The two groups and their factions were establishing and maintaining camps in neighbouring countries for the purpose of safe sanctuary, training, and procurement of arms and ammunition, the notification stated. The MHA clarified that “the aforesaid activities of the NLFT and the ATTF are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and that they are unlawful associations”. It also pointed out that if there is no immediate curb and control of the NLFT and the ATTF, they will take the opportunity to “mobilise their cadres for escalating their secessionist, subversive, and violent activities; propagate anti-national activities in collusion with forces inimical to India’s sovereignty and national integrity”. Apart from these, the MHA notification mentions that these groups “indulge in killings of civilians and targeting of the police and Security forces personnel; procuring and inducting illegal arms and ammunitions from across the international border; and extorting and collecting huge funds from the public for their unlawful activities”. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) the Central Government hereby declares the National Liberation Front of Tnpura (NLFT) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations,” the notification read. “The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of the further opinion that it is necessary to declare the NLFT and the ATTF along with all their factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect from 3rd October, 2023 for a period of five years,” it added.