Agartala, March 10: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga?s efforts to bring six militant outfits to the negotiation table have triggered dissension in the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
Sources said the NLFT faction led by Biswamohan Debbarma has opposed the chief minister?s move and ruled in favour of continuing militant activities. This led to a clash with the pro-negotiation members of the group led by Mantu and Dhanu Koloi on February 17. Though a lot of blood was shed, the exact number of casualties is not yet known. However, a number of NLFT rebels have fled their camps in Bangladesh following the clash.
The sources said that ever since the party split in July last year, it has been plagued by dissension. The conflict between senior commanders Mantu Koloi and Dhanu Koloi and outfit leaders Biswamohan Debbarma and Kamini Debbarma reached such a height that Kamini Debbarma was forced to retreat from the NLFT hideouts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and shift to a more populated area.
The group suffered another setback on November 21 when a group of activists, led by Bindajay Reang, revolted in the Lalu Kalu camp in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and shot dead eight rebels.