Agartala: Former members of Tripura’s disbanded insurgent groups ended a 72-hour road and rail blockade on Friday after receiving fresh assurances from the state government. The agitation, which began at 6 am, briefly disrupted transport on the Assam-Agartala National Highway and halted rail services before a breakthrough in negotiations.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who was in New Delhi, intervened personally to address the protesters. Following his commitment to resolve their concerns, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma and senior police officials met with the groups to finalize the end of the demonstration. Normal traffic and train services resumed shortly thereafter across the affected districts of North Tripura, Unakoti, and Khowai.
The protest was organized to voice dissatisfaction with the implementation of a tripartite peace accord signed on September 4, 2024. Former insurgent leader Prasenjit Debbarma stated the movement was necessary due to delays in rehabilitation projects and the slow screening process for surrendered cadres from groups like the NLFT and ATTF. He noted that the group chose to withdraw the protest to prioritize diplomacy, stating, "The protestors had received positive assurances from the government and decided to withdraw the blockade in the interest of finding an amicable solution through dialogue."
Police officials confirmed the demonstrations remained peaceful across key sites, including Hatai Kotor and Sadhupara. West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak reported that law enforcement agencies monitored the situation closely, ensuring no untoward incidents occurred while the blockade was in effect.
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