NLFT president Debbarma thanks Union govt as militants in Tripura return to mainstream

Agartala (Tripura) [India], September 25 (ANI): National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) president Biswa Mohan Debbarma has thanked government of India after more than 500 militants belonging to NLFT and Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) returned to the mainstream.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Government of India as we celebrate our homecoming ceremony today. I also want to thank the Union Home Ministry, state government, BSF and other agencies. We are very happy," Debbarma told ANI on Tuesday.
The militants also surrendered a huge number of arms and ammunition. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha termed the return of the militants to the mainstream a historic day.
"On 4 September we held a meeting in Delhi with NLFT and ATTF in the presence of the Union Home Minister. This is a historic day in Tripura that NLFT and ATTF members have surrendered their arms and ammunition in such large numbers," Saha told ANI.
584 members of various armed groups of NLFT and ATTF surrendered at the 7th Battalion Tripura State Rifle (TSR) in Jampuijala, Sepahijala district.
On this day, Biswa Mohan Debbarma, President of NLFT (BM), Parimal Debbarma, President of NLFT (PD), Prasenjit Debbarma, President of NLFT (ORI) and Alindra Debbarma, President, of ATTF, surrendered AK Series rifles before the Chief Minister.
"Major breakthrough in NE peace process! Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi Ji & HM Amit Shah Ji's efforts yield results as 584 NLFT & ATTF cadres surrender & reintegrate. Total 12 peace agreements signed with NE groups, including 3 in Tripura. A new era of peace & development unfolds!" CM Saha said in a post on X.
"Today, 584 members of various armed groups of NLFT and ATTF returned to the mainstream by surrendering at the TSR 7th Battalion ground in Jampuijala. I welcome them all," CM Saha said in a post on another social media account.
This event follows the peace accord signed between the Government of India, the Government of Tripura, the NLFT, and the ATTF in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Manik Saha in New Delhi on September 4.
Notably, the central government last year declared the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and all of their factions, wings and front organizations as unlawful associations for a period of five years.
Addressing the event, Saha said that the arms-laying ceremony was a result of the peace accord, which marked a significant milestone in Tripura's journey towards peace.
"When Narendra Modi took charge as Prime Minister of India, he consistently emphasised that the development of the country is impossible without the development of the Northeast. We can see that the Northeast, which was once grappling with terrorism, is now almost free from it, with around 12 peace accords having been signed, three of which pertain to Tripura. Without peace in the state and the country, development is not possible. From today, we can say that Tripura is now free from insurgency. Both the state and central governments have implemented a series of schemes for the development of the Janajati people," Saha said.
The event was attended by Tripura DGP Amitabh Ranjan, DGP (Intelligence) Anurag, Chief Secretary JK Sinha, Home Secretary PK Chakraborty, Sepahijala District Magistrate Siddhart Shiv Jaiswal, and others. (ANI)