Not easy to be India! Here are a few of the armed rebel groups that needed or needs to be dealt with in five of the provinces. Abbreviations are included for your convenience:
Nagaland:
The Nagas claims independence from India. So, when the British left India, the NNC – the Naga National Council asked India to make the land independent. India refused, resistance started. Finally an accord was reached. Some of the Nagas were not happy about this and formed the NSCN – The National Socialist Council of Nagaland. However, there were some tribal disagreements, so theysplit again into the NSCN-IM, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah, and the NSCN-K, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang.
Assam:
In the province Assam, the ULFA – United Liberation Front of Asom engaged in terrorist activities in their fight for independence. Cooperating with NSCN-IM, ULFA also set up bases in other countries, supported by the ISI – Inter Serviced Intelligence of Pakistan, and DGFI – the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of Bangladesh.
The Bodos in Assam were not happy either. The NDFB – National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the ABSU – All Bodo Students’ Union wanted Bodoland to be independent. When the BVF – Bodo Volunteer Force decided to sign the BA – Bodo Accord, the ABSU thought there was no need for further activism. Still, a part of BVF was not happy with the deal, so they formed the BLTF – the Bodo Liberation Tiger Force, popularly called the BLT, and started terrorizing. After some time, the BLTF, or BLT as we know them, negotiated a truce with the authorities as well, forming the BTC – The Bodoland Territorial Council. The NDFB, of course, did not see any point in taking part in the negotiations. Furthermore, the KLNLF – the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front in Assam together with the DMD – Dima Halam Daogah, and the ACF – Adivasi Cobra Force, started their rebellion. And let’s not forget the islamists, the MULTA – Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam, assisted by the ISI.
Manipur:
In Manipur the UNLF – United National Liberation Front and the PLA – People’s Liberation Army, PREPAK – People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and KCP – Kangleipak Communist Party are part of the fight for independence. Oh, and PULF – People’s United Liberation Front. I nearly forgot.
Tripura:
In Tripura, the TNV – Tripura National Volunteers collaborates with the MNF – Mizo National Front. ATPLO – All Tripura People’s Liberation Organization likes to work by themselves. Arguments in the TNV camp resulted in some of the old TNV gyus forming the NLTF – National Liberation Front of Tripura. ATTF – originally named All Tripura Tribal Force, thought the name was a bit dull, changed to All Tripura Tiger Force. And no need to change the abbreviations. Good thinking. The ATTF likes to do hit-and-runs.
Meghalaya:
First one, the HALC – Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council. Ethnic differences turned the HALC into HNLC – Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council and the AMLA – Achick Matgril Liberation Army. Problems in AMLA; had to get a new name, the ANVC – Achik National Volunteers Council.
The ANVC made alliances with the ULFA, the NSCN-IM and NDFB to ease the confusion.
Any questions? Didn’t think so. I need a coffee.