According to the Chief MinisterManik Sarkar, there are at least 16 NLFT camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. (File photo)
After the NSCN (IM), one more banned terrorist group in northeastern India - the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) - may give up arms and sign a peace pact with the government, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today.
"Officials of Union Home Ministry, central intelligence bodies and Tripura government have already held two rounds of talks during the past six months with the NLFT in Delhi and Shillong," Mr Sarkar said.
"We are ready to continue the peace talks with the NLFT. However, their concrete and specific conditions, demands and issues are yet to be submitted to the government."
"Under the Indian Constitution, we are ready to hold talks on any issues of the NLFT," said Mr Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio.
According to the Chief Minister, there are at least 16 NLFT camps in neighbouring Bangladesh and the outfit has around 80 cadres with roughly 100 sophisticated arms.
"The NLFT also has accounts in Bangladeshi banks," Mr Sarkar said, adding that the Bangladesh government and its security forces had helped a lot in cracking down against various extremists outfits of northeast India.
The NLFT reportedly had recently approached the Union Home Ministry to involve former Tripura National Volunteers (TNV) supremo Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl and former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in the ongoing peace process and dialogue with the government.
The NLFT and another outfit All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), banned in 1997 by the Union Home Ministry, have been demanding secession of Tripura from India. But as most ATTF cadres have surrendered, the group is almost non-existent now.