Rudratree at 12:05, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T12:05:24Z

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{{Short description|Tripuri nationalist militant group}}
{{Other uses|Tiger Force (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = All Tripura Tiger Force
| war = [[Insurgency in North-East India]]
*[[Insurgency in Tripura]]
| image = [[File:Flag of the All Tripura Tiger Force.png|200px]]
| caption = Flag of the All Tripura Tiger Force
| leaders = [[Ranjit Debbarma]]{{POW}}
| clans =
| ideology = [[Ethnic nationalism]]
| motive = [[Autonomy]] of [[Tripura]]
| active = 1990- 2024
| status = Disbanded
| headquarters = [[Bangladesh]]
| area = [[Tripura]], [[India]]
| size = 200 - 300
| predecessor = Right wing of [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]],<br>[[Tripura National Volunteers]],<br>All Tripura Tiger Force
| allies =
| international =
| opponents = [[Government of Tripura]]
| designated_as_terror_group_by = [[Government of India]],<br>[[Government of Tripura]],<br>
[[Interpol]]
}}

The '''All Tripura Tiger Force''' ('''ATTF''') was a [[Tripuri nationalism|Tripuri nationalist]] militant group active in [[India|India's]] [[Tripura|Tripura State]]. It was founded on 11 July 1990, by a group of former [[Tripura National Volunteer]] members under the leadership of [[Ranjit Debbarma]]. The ATTF is considered a [[terrorist organisation]] by India.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/tripura/terrorist_outfits/index.html|title=Terrorist / Insurgent Groups – Tripura, India|work=South Asia Terrorism Portal}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://jamestown.org/program/100-more-terrorist-groups-banned-in-india-what-are-indias-counterterrorism-priorities/ |journal=Terrorism Monitor |title=100 More Terrorist Groups Banned in India: What are India's Counterterrorism Priorities? |volume=8 |issue=22 |publisher=The Jamestown Foundation |date=4 June 2010 |author=Animesh Roul}}</ref> According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal, approximately 90% of the ATTF's administration are [[Hindus|Hindu]] and the rest are [[Christians]].<ref name="satp">{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/tripura/terrorist_outfits/Attf.htm|title=All Tripura Tiger Force|work=South Asia Terrorism Portal}}</ref> The group was said to have been formed as the armed wing of the [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]] (NLFT) but split into its own organization.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/How-Tripura-overcame-insurgency/article13606760.ece|title=How Tripura overcame insurgency|last=Sahaya|first=D. N.|date=2011-09-19|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-04-23|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The group was headquartered in Tarabon in [[Bangladesh]].

== History ==
Initially known with the name All Tripura Tribal Force formed on 11th July 1990 but difference in the leadership idea of Lalit Debbarma and Ranjit Debbarma on the core issue of signing an memorandum of settlement with the Government of Tripura and to surrender its cadres lead to the formation of Tiger force .Lalit Debbarma (President), Ramendra Reang (Vice President), Dilip Debbarma (Treasurer), Rabindra Reang (General Secretary), Santaram Reang (Accountant)<ref name=":0" /> surrendered on 23 August 1993 along with 1633 cadres.<ref name=":2" /> But Ranjit Debbarma continued Armed insurgency along with his followers with the name "ALL TRIPURA TIGER FORCE".

The Tripura Land Revenue and Reforms Act of 1960 can be seen as a source of Tripuri grievances against [[Bengalis|Bengali]] peoples. This act stated that any person who came into Tripura would be considered as an illegal trespasser.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://jami.tripura.gov.in/download/TLR_ACT.pdf|title=THE TRIPURA LAND RRVENUE AND LAND REFORMS ACT, 1960 NO. 43 of 1960|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045658/http://jami.tripura.gov.in/download/TLR_ACT.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Tripuri people considered Bengalis trespassers in their land so they wanted this act to take full effect.<ref name=":6" /> Another grievance for the Tripuri people was that immigrants made up more of the population than the natives and they felt that their land was being taken over by Bengalis, who make up the majority of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tripura.org.in/pophistory.htm|title=Tripura, the Histirical land of Tripuri People|website=tripura.org.in|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>

The organization began as a tribal group made up of [[Extremism|extremists]] but eventually started recruiting tribal youth. This helped to grow the group and make it more powerful. By 1991, the group was a full-fledged terrorist organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/tripura/terrorist_outfits/attf.htm|title=All Tripura Tiger Force, Tripura, India, South Asia Terrorism Portal|website=www.satp.org|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref>

This group was founded under the name "All Tripura Tribal Force". In 1992, the group changed the name from "All Tripura Tribal Force" to "All Tripura Tiger Force".<ref name=":33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/tripura/terrorist_outfits/attf.htm|title=All Tripura Tiger Force}}</ref>

The group has various training camps spread throughout the Srimongal and [[Moulvibazar District|Moulavibazar]] districts of Bangladesh.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=http://tripurapolice.gov.in/PresentPhaseInsurgency|title=Present Phase of Insurgency}}</ref> In 1993, a memorandum was issued by the ATTF. It expressed the idea that the members of All Tripura Tiger Force wished to stop their violent struggle against the Bengali people.<ref name=":7" /> The document also stated that there have been peace talks between the government of Tripura and the ATTF. Some members of the group decided to stay in the organization even with the memorandum, others left the group and renounced terrorism.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/IN_930823_MemorandumSettlementTripuraStateATTF.pdf|title=Memorandum of Settlement between the Tripura State Government and All Tripura Tribal Force (ATTF)}}</ref>

In 1997, the Indian government issued a ban under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act|Unlawful Activities Prevention Act]] against the ATTF due to the rioting caused by ethnic division in the Tripura region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/centre-imposes-fresh-ban-on-two-insurgent-groups-in-tripura-indulging-in-violent-subversive-activities-to-establish-independent-nation-5317071.html|title=Centre imposes fresh ban on two insurgent groups in Tripura indulging in violent, subversive activities to establish independent nation}}</ref>

In 2004, there was a movement for peace with the Bengali peoples but it never came to pass. This was a move for peace led by [[Ranjit Debbarma]] that came with conditions.<ref name=":33"/> The primary condition was that Bengalis who entered Tripura after 1949 should be considered foreigners.<ref name=":33"/>

In October 2018, the [[Government of India|Indian government]] denounced the All Tripura Tiger Force and The National Liberation Front of Tripura for its violent activities.<ref name=":1" /> The ATTF and NLFT were given the chance in 2019 to defend their recent actions when a team from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs investigated both the organizations. They hoped to prevent the organization from being named as terrorist by the government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2019/01/31/tribunal-to-visit-tripura-to-record-evidence-against-nlft-attf|title=Tribunal to visit Tripura to record evidence against NLFT, ATTF|website=EastMojo|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>

In January 2019 The MHA tribunal recorded A fresh ban of five years was imposed on NLFT and ATTF, along with all their factions, wings and frontal organisations, on October 3 for their “violent and subversive activities”, which aim at the establishment of an independent nation by the secession of Tripura from India through armed struggle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/nation/mha-tribunal-to-visit-tripura-to-record-evidence-against-two-outlawed-outfits-338640|title=MHA tribunal to visit Tripura to record evidence against two outlawed outfits|work=Millennium Post|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/tripura-nlft-attf-home-ministry-tribunal-5560946/|title=MHA tribunal to visit Tripura to record evidence against outlawed outfits NLFT, ATTF|work=Indian Express|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref> In May 2019 the authorities continued for five more years the actual ban they have with the ATTF and the [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]] despite its partial demobilization<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ban-on-nlft-attf-to-continue-for-five-years-119051100705_1.html|title=Ban on NLFT, ATTF to continue for five years|work=Business Standard|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref>

== Linkages ==
The [[Global Terrorism Database]] stated that the group had been operating under or with the [[United Liberation Front of Assam]] (ULFA).<ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/Results.aspx?chart=overtime&casualties_type=&casualties_max=&perpetrator=287|title=GTD Search Results|website=start.umd.edu|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> The group has been linked to other banned organizations such as the [[National Socialist Council of Nagaland|National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang]] (NSCN-K), the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the [[People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak]] (PREPAK), the Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF), and the National Liberation Front of Arunach Pradesh (NFLA).<ref name=":33"/> These groups were said to have been linked through extortion and [[Illegal drug trade|drug-trafficking]] networks that cross the border between India and Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/attf.htm|title=All Tripura Tribal/Tiger Force|website=globalsecurity.org|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> The ATTF was caught in 2003 smuggling ammunition and explosives from Bangladesh to [[Nepal]] for [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)|Maoist insurgents]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-other-border-problem/222394|title=The Other Border Problem|website=www.outlookindia.com|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> The Bangladesh RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) uncovered various All Tripura Tiger Force hideouts with large amounts of ammunition and explosives scattered along the Satchhari Forest, close to their headquarters in Tarabon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-10 |title=India-Bangladesh border meet on terrorism, arms, drug trade |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/11/10/india-bangladesh-border-meet-on-terrorism-arms-drug-trade |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423012545/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/11/10/india-bangladesh-border-meet-on-terrorism-arms-drug-trade |archive-date=2019-04-23 |access-date=2019-04-23 |website=bdnews24.com}}</ref>

== Operations ==
According to the Global Terrorism Database, the ATTF committed 7 claimed attacks and another 7 suspected attacks.<ref name=":52" /> The first claimed attack occurred in October 1992.<ref name=":52" /> The latest recorded attacks was committed in November 2017. The attack was an armed assault on police patrol which left four policemen dead.<ref name=":52"/> While all of their attacks have had relatively few casualties, their most lethal attack was in May 2003.<ref name=":52" /> The attack occurred in Mohorcherra, India against civilians and resulted in a total of 19 deaths.<ref name=":52" />

== Leadership ==
As of 2016, the leadership of the group is as follows:<ref name=":33"/>

* President - Ranjit Debbarma
* Vice-president - Chitta Debbarma (also known as Bikash Koloi)
* Organization Secretary - Upendra Debbarma
* Publicity Secretary - Malinjoy Reang
* Communication Secretary - Subbodh Debbarma
* Finance Secretary - Asit Debbarma

Ranjit Debbarma was arrested in 2017 on [[sedition]] charges and was also thought to have been trying to form a new regime of terrorism in Tripura with the All Tripura Tiger Force and the National Liberation Front of Tripura.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/uncategorised/tripura-attf-chief-ranjit-debbarma-held-sedition-charges|title=Tripura: ATTF Chief Ranjit Debbarma Held on Sedition Charges|website=The Wire|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref> He was also arrested in [[Dhaka]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/attf-chairman-ranjit-debabarma-arrested-in-bangladesh/|title=ATTF Chairman Ranjit Debabarma arrested in Bangladesh|date=2012-12-30|website=TIMES OF ASSAM|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref>

==Objectives==
To rid all Bengali peoples from Tripuri areas, specifically those who entered after 1956<ref name=":33"/>

The returning of Tripuri lands to their original owners as provided under the act of 1960<ref name=":33" />

To make the [[Tripura Merger Agreement|Tripura Merger Agreement of 1949]] happen in the region.<ref name=":02"/>

* This agreement allowed Tripura to officially become a part of the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]]. Even though Bangladesh was still incorporated into India at this time, this would further separate the Tripuri peoples from their Bengali neighbors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/indiatripura-1949-present/|title=43. India/Tripura (1949-present)|website=uca.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-23|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215004036/https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/indiatripura-1949-present/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Peace Accord ==
On 4 September 2024, the group's Chief Alindra Reang along with NLFT Chief [[Biswamohan Debbarma]] and vice chief Upendra Reang <ref>{{Cite web |title=English Press Release: Peace accord signed between GoI, GoT & NLFT – ATTF {{!}} Official Website of Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, India |url=https://ica.tripura.gov.in/english-press-release-peace-accord-signed-between-goi-got-nlft-attf |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=ica.tripura.gov.in}}</ref> signed the [[2024 Tripura Peace Accord]] with the Government of India, Government of Tripura ending the 35 year old [[Insurgency in Tripura]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Historic Peace Agreement Signed Between the Governments of India, Tripura, NLFT & ATTF at New Delhi|url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/2024/09/04/historic-peace-agreement-signed-between-the-governments-of-india-tripura-nlft-attf-at-new-delhi/|access-date=2024-09-04|website=Northeast Now}}</ref>

== See also ==

*[[List of terrorist organisations in India]]
*[[Tripura rebellion]]
*[[Tripuri nationalism]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Terror outfits}}

[[Category:1990 establishments in Tripura]]
[[Category:Tripuri nationalism]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by India]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]
[[Category:Rebel groups in India]]
[[Category:Moulvibazar District]]

All Tripura Tiger Force - Revision history

Rudratree at 12:05, 26 March 2026