THE CRISIS

Ravaged relentlessly by a series of tribal-insurgency movements since 1978, civil society in Tripura is virtually on the verge of a total collapse now. Tribal insurgency in Tripura in organised form began with the emergence of erstwhile Tripura National Volunteer (T.N.V.) led by Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawal in December 1978 and has been continuing since then with only one and half year's peaceful interregnum between September 1988 and April 1990. The T.N.V. insurgents led by Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawal laid down arms en masse in September 1988, having signed a tripartite peace accord with Government of India and the government of Tripura on August 10th 1988. The state passed through a relatively peaceful period till May 1990 when the All Tripura Tribal Force (A.T.T.F.) was formed. In September 1991 the currently outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (N.L.F.T) made its appearance under the leadership of former TNV vice president Mr. Dhananjay Reang. The A.T.T.F. group, widely believed to have been sponsored by political elements aligned with the then opposition, carried on operations by selectively killing leaders and workers of Congress and T.U.J.S. who were ruling the state then. The N.L.F.T, on the other hand, continued their hit and run operations targeting unarmed civilians as well as security forces after a number of former T.N.V. commanders who had availed themselves of all rehabilitation benefits, joined the outfit. The last two decades of relentless insurgency has taken a heavy toll , disrupting life and society in the state, particularly in the tribal-dominated hilly interiors. According to an estimate close to 3000 people including security force personnel and militants have been killed by insurgents belonging to various groups over the past two decades of insurgency. The figure, of course, excludes the death toll in the ethnic riots of 1979 and 1980.

RETROSPECT

The background of Tripura's insurgency problem lies in the deep resentment among tribals over the demographic imbalance in the state manifested in the majority status of non-tribal Bengalis as a result of influx of refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) and perceived threat to their identity, culture and tradition. But, before dwelling at length on this it may be mentioned that the present insurgency may be described as a legacy of the past in that Tripura witnessed its first organised insurgency in the late forties (1948-51). This duly came to an end, but, the legacy of bloodshed remained.

DEMOGRAPHY

Regarding the demographic imbalance it must be mentioned that contrary to ideas peddled by a section of the intelligentsia, princely Tripura ruled by historically recorded rulers of the Manikya dynasty from 1464 to 1947 always had a Bengali population since the earliest times as recorded by 'Rajmala', the court chronicle of Tripura kings. As per census records, tribals constituted 52.89% of Tripura's population in the first census of the last century held in 1901 while non-tribals formed 47.11%. The balance remained relatively stable in 1931 census when Tripura's tribal population was 50.26% and non-tribal Bengali population was 49.74%. Even in 1941 tribal and non-tribal population was respectively 50.9% and 49.91%.

But, the beginning of communal clashes involving Hindus and Muslims in British-ruled East Bengal (later East Pakistan and now Bangladesh) from 1943 led to a trickle of influx into princely Tripura from neighbouring 'Chakla Roshanabad' area, a zemindari of Tripura kings spread over present Comilla, Brahmanbaria districts in entirety and parts of Habiganj, Sylhet and Noakhali districts in present Bangladesh. The kings welcomed the refugees as they were their subjects and helped them settle down here. But as communal clashes grew in intensity over the Muslim League's demand for Pakistan, influx from other parts of East Bengal also started. The major changes in the demographic balance of Tripura was reflected in the 1951 census when tribal population was recorded at 36.85% and the trend continued till 1981 census when tribal population reached it's lowest limit of only 28.44%.