The National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) was formed on March 12, 1989, with Dhananjoy Reang (former vice-president of the Tripura National Volunteers -TNV) as its 'chairman'. Reang after being 'expelled' from the NLFT in 1993 formed a separate outfit, the Tripura Resurrection Army (TRA), but surrendered in 1997.

After Reang's removal, Nayanbasi Jamatiya became leader of the outfit and later Biswamohan Debbarma took over. However, another split occurred in September 2000 following differences between the Halam and Debbarma tribal members of NLFT. Thus, the Borok National Council of Tripura (BNCT) was formed by Jogendra alias Joshua Debbarma. Personal ambitions of the leaders and parochial religious considerations are believed to have caused yet another split in February 2001 when Nayanbasi Jamatiya and Biswamohan Debbarma parted ways to have factions of NLFT under their respective leaderships.

The fourth split occurred in June 2003 when Biswamohan Debbarma was deposed allegedly at the behest of NLFT's patrons in Bangladesh and Mantu Koloi was placed as the leader of the faction. Debbarma is reported to have subsequently set up separate camps on the Tripura-Bangladesh border with his followers.

The split occurred as a result of:

1. Reluctance of the Central Executive Committee of NLFT led by Biswamohan Debbarma to nominate Joshua Debbarma as the King of ‘Tripura Kingdom’;
2. Misappropriation of funds by senior leaders;
3. Lavish lifestyles led by the senior leadership; and
4. Forcible conversion of tribal cadres/civilians to Christianity

Nayanbasi Jamatiya and Biswamohan Debbarma have been heading two factions since 2001. In June 2003, 'general secretary' Mantu Koloi was reportedly made leader of the faction Biswamohan had been heading. Earlier, internal bickering within NLFT had led to a spate of violent internecine clashes in Tripura and at the outfit's camps in Bangladesh. Senior leaders such as Utpanna Tripura and Mukul Debbarma were believed to have been killed in the clashes. However, other leaders of the undivided NLFT included 'vice-president' Kamini Debbarma, 'publicity secretary' Binoy Debbarma, 'chief of army' Dhanu Koloi, and 'finance secretary' Bishnu Prasad Jamatiya escaped. While the Debbarma faction reportedly has an estimated strength of 550 cadres, the Nayanbasi faction has 250 cadres.

The purported objective of the NLFT is to establish an 'independent' Tripura through an armed struggle following the liberation from 'Indian neo-colonialism and imperialism' and furtherance of a 'distinct and independent identity'. NLFT was outlawed in April 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, following its involvement in terrorist and subversive activities. It is also proscribed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002.

The community-wise break-up in the NLFT is: Debbarma - 40 per cent, Jamatiya - 30 per cent, Reang - 10 per cent, and others- 20 per cent. About 90 per cent of the top ranking NLFT cadres are Christians.

The headquarters of NLFT is located at Sajak, a camp in the Khagrachari district of Bangladesh. Over 60 armed NLFT cadres are permanently stationed in seven huts at the headquarters. Another NLFT camp is in the Mayani Reserve area, also in Khagrachari. Boalchari, the 'general family headquarters camp' of NLFT is located in Khagrachari near the Sajak camp. Family members of top NLFT leaders reportedly stay here.

NLFT has links with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s external intelligence agency and its counterpart in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Field Intelligence (DGFI). During 1997-98, NLFT leaders were reported to have visited Pakistan to receive training and arms from ISI which had arranged the passports and visas for NLFT leaders.