Karbi People's Liberation Tiger (KPLT)

Incidents and Statements involving KPLT: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011-2012

Formation

The Karbi People's Liberation Tiger (KPLT), earlier known as Anti-Talks Factions of Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF-ATF) was formed at an undisclosed location on January 8, 2011. The outfit was formed with 25 cadres of KLNLF-ATF who formally rechristened itself as KPLT.

The KLNLF-ATF was a breakaway faction of the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), which had laid down arms on February 11, 2010. KPLT has emerged as a new threat in the State. The KPLT is believed to have split towards the middle of 2011, when some of its members formed a new group, the Karbi National Protection Force (KNPF). However, not much is heard about the KNPF.

Leadership

KPLT is headed by Jing Hanse, deputy 'commander-in-chief' and Nilip Enghi, the 'general secretary-cum publicity in-charge' of the outfit. However in a setback to the outfit on July 12, 2011, Security Forces (SFs) killed two KPLT militants, including 'commander-in-chief' Angpang Engti and his bodyguard Ading Rangpi and injured another militant, at Upper Deihori Rangpi Kro village in Karbi Anglong district.

Objectives

KPLT is formed with an objective of carving an Autonomous Karbi State (AKS) out of Assam. The KPLT pledged to fight until the AKS is formed. Significantly, Jing Hanse, on the outfit's Foundation had declared that his party would continue subversive activities if their demands were not met.

Area of operation

The KPLT has its base in Dima Hasao district of Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the outfit is most active in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The new outfit claims it is equipped with modern weaponry like mortars, AK-47, AK-56, M20 guns etc.

Linkages

The KPLT has links with the Anti-Talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-ATF), another militant outfit of Assam and reportedly with Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). On July 2, 2011, around 30 militants of NDFB-ATF under the leadership of B. Narzari were reported to have built up bases inside Kaki reserve forest in the border areas of Karbi Anglong and Nagaon Districts. The NDFB-ATF is trying to secure its hold in the eastern part of Karbi Anglong with the help of KPLT. NDFB-ATF along with the KPLT is also reportedly procuring weapons and ammunitions from arms dealers operating from the Dimapur city of Nagaland. Report also stated that a batch of newly-trained 60 KPLT militants have completed their training in a NSCN-K camp near Dimapur and may join the outfit soon.

Peace process

The Government rules out the possibility of talks with the outfit since it does not recognize KPLT as representative of the Karbi people and that the members of the outfit indulge in unlawful activities, and are considered criminals. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) only recognized United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and KLNLF as representative of the Karbi people. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary (Northeast) Shambhu Singh stated on August 12, 2011, that "government is of the view that the KLNLF should also sign the same agreement," like the UPDS who had signed accord on November 25, 2011 with the Central and State Government for Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC). KLNLF is also under cease-fire, but has not signed any agreement on its demands, of which the core is the formation of AKS.