Bengali Tiger Force
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| Bengali Tiger Force | |
|---|---|
| বাঙালি টাইগার ফোর্স | |
| Also known as | Bengal Tiger Force |
| Country | India |
| Leader(s) | Subhash Chandra Sarkar |
| Foundation | December 9, 1996 |
| Dates of operation | 1996–2006, 2010–present |
| Motives | Protection of Bengali Hindus in Assam |
| Active region(s) | Assam, India |
| Ideology | Bengali Hindu nationalism |
| Notable attacks |
|
| Status | Active |
| Size | 325 (at time of surrender in 2006) |
| Headquarters | Kaimari, Darrang, Assam |
Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) or Bengal Tiger Force (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., bn) is a Bengali Hindu armed organization based in Assam, India.
Formation
Under the directives of various Assamese nationalist organizations including AASU and ULFA, Bengali Hindus in Assam were subjected to oppression under various pretexts. In resistance to this, the Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) was founded on December 9, 1996, and has been engaged in armed struggle for the protection of Bengali Hindus residing in the state of Assam. It is believed that this group had close ties with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), an armed group fighting for the protection of Bodos residing in Assam, and that the Bengali Tiger Force received training under the BLT. However, it later became anti-Bodo. Subhash Chandra Sarkar was its Chairman-cum-C-in-C.[1][2]
Activities
It is said that the Bengali Tiger Force had a secret base in the village of Kaimari in Darrang. On the night of August 14, 1998, at around 10:30 PM, at least six people were killed in the Milanpur area of Tangla, Darrang district. The Bengali Tiger Force was held responsible for this. Among the victims were two women and a close relative of Assam's Revenue Minister Joy Nath Sarma.
On August 10, 1998, Mr. P. R. Pandya, manager of Kochi Tea Estate, was abducted. The Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) was held responsible for this.[3][4]
Looting of weapons from Assam Police
The BTF looted weapons from the Assam Police.[5][6]
Surrender
The Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) surrendered arms on August 14, 2006, at a city event in Guwahati in the presence of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, after signing the BTC Agreement and observing an undeclared ceasefire for more than three years. Under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Sarkar, the group returned to the mainstream with a total of 325 cadres. During the event, the BTF surrendered their weapons and ammunition. This was the first surrender by any armed organization in the state of Assam. At the time, they possessed 32 guns, two American carbines, several pistols, grenades, and 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The Chief Minister announced that the surrendering members would receive a rehabilitation package. BTF’s 'C-in-C' Sarkar demanded five lakh rupees for each cadre and for the families of those killed. He also requested the withdrawal of pending cases against the cadres and expressed a desire for them to be inducted into the armed forces.[7]
Rebuke to BJP
Before the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had promised to grant citizenship to Bengali Hindus. However, after coming to power, the BJP did not fulfill this promise. In protest, on March 19, 2016, in Kalaigaon, within the BTAD region, a press release issued by Vivek Roy, General Secretary of the Bengali Tiger Force’s Rehabilitation Coordination Committee, called upon the Bengali people to vote for a party that supports the welfare of the community. Until the BJP announces the fulfillment of its promise, the Bengali people should boycott the party in the upcoming elections.[8]
References
- ↑ "Assam: BAC fails to check militancy". Hindustan Times. 2004-12-17. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "Bodo rebels kill 13 non-tribals". The Times of India. 2002-01-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "Assam: BAC fails to check militancy". Hindustan Times. 2004-12-17. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "Bodo rebels kill 13 non-tribals". The Times of India. 2002-01-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "President's medal for Puducherry police chief". The Hindu. 2016-01-27. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "Bodo rebels kill 13 non-tribals". The Times of India. 2002-01-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "BTF militants lay down arms in Asom". oneindia. 2006-08-14. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "BTF slams BJP". The Sentinel - of this Land, for its People. 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
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- Rebel groups in India
- Paramilitary organisations based in India
- Military units and formations established in 1996
- 1996 establishments in Assam
- History of Assam
- Politics of Assam
- Ethnic organisations based in India
- Insurgency in Northeast India
- Organisations based in Assam
- Terrorism in India
- Defunct organisations based in India
- Organisations designated as terrorist by India
