The Government of Tripura uncovered evidence asserting that the Baptist Church in Tripura had been helping Tripuri militants, such as the NLFT in the state. The NLFT militants, who are involved in armed struggle for the independence of Tripura, and the creation of a "Christian state", have been forcing local tribals to convert to Christianity at gunpoint and threatening to murder participants in Hindu festivals. It is believed that as many as 5,000 tribal villagers were converted in this fashion over two years. These forcible conversions to Christianity, sometimes including the use of "rape as a means of intimidation," have also been noted by academics outside of India.