Tripura’s 72-hour blockade by surrendered militant groups was withdrawn after causing severe disruption, stopping ambulances, forcing passengers to walk, and paralysing road and rail services. Talks with the West Tripura district administration led to consensus on most demands.
The 72-hour blockade called by surrendered militant groups in Tripura was withdrawn on Saturday evening after causing widespread disruption to road and rail connectivity, with ambulances delayed, passengers forced to walk through protest sites and thousands of civilians facing severe difficulties during the second day of the agitation.
The strike was organised under the banner of the All Returnees’ Rehabilitation Committee, representing seven surrendered militant organisations. The groups had launched the agitation to press for an 11-point charter of demands, with the time-bound implementation of the 2024 tripartite peace accord among their principal demands.
The agitation began with protesters staging sit-ins and blockades at several strategic locations, including Hatai Kotor, Khowai Chowmuhani and Brigudas Bari. Highways were blocked and protesters also occupied railway tracks, severely affecting public transportation and the movement of essential services.
The disruption had a major impact on railway operations. The Northeast Frontier Railway was compelled to cancel, reschedule and short-terminate several trains, including long-distance services. The blockade also brought traffic on the Assam–Agartala National Highway, one of the state’s most important transport lifelines, to a virtual standstill.
Although police officials said the overall situation remained largely peaceful, tension was reported at Baramura when police personnel requested protesters to allow emergency travellers to pass through the blockade. According to officials, some protesters became aggressive, threatened police personnel and moved towards them, forcing the police to temporarily retreat.
The most serious impact of the blockade was felt by ordinary passengers and commuters. At Chandrapur ISBT, bus and jeep services were suspended, while passenger turnout dropped sharply because of uncertainty over road movement. Long-distance travellers were stranded and many commuters were left with few alternatives to reach their destinations.
The situation became particularly difficult at Baramura, where vehicles remained stranded for hours on both sides of the road. Passengers were forced to leave vehicles and walk across the protest area to continue their journeys. Children, women and elderly passengers were among those affected.
The blockade also created difficulties for emergency services. Ambulances reportedly faced delays because of the road restrictions, raising concerns over the consequences for patients requiring urgent medical attention. The stoppage of traffic also created significant inconvenience for people travelling for medical treatment and other essential purposes.
Frustrated commuters criticised the disruption, saying that although the protesters had the right to raise their demands, public agitation should not leave ordinary citizens helpless. Passengers called on the authorities to restore traffic movement and prevent essential services from being affected.
The protest also raised concerns over the fragile peace established after the surrender of militant groups in the state. During the agitation, a representative of the protesters warned that failure to resolve their demands could lead to the return of surrendered arms and even a possible return of cadres to the jungles.
The warning generated concern because the organisations involved are former militant groups that had surrendered as part of the peace and rehabilitation process. The protesters have been demanding effective implementation of commitments made under the 2024 tripartite peace accord and measures concerning the rehabilitation and welfare of returnees.
The situation changed on Saturday afternoon when the protesting organisations entered into discussions with the West Tripura district administration. Following negotiations with West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar, the groups agreed to withdraw the blockade.
Speaking to mediapersons after the withdrawal, Dr Kumar said the administration had held discussions with all the organisations representing the returnees and examined their demands. He said several of the issues raised by the organisations were important for the welfare of returnee beneficiaries.
According to the district magistrate, the administration accepted most of the demands within the existing rules and assured the organisations that their genuine demands would be addressed in a time-bound manner.
“We have also talked about some points of the agreement. In view of the consensus we have reached on the majority of the issues, the leaders of returnee organisations have called off the strike,” Dr Kumar said.
The district magistrate also acknowledged the role of Prasenjit Debbarma, who had been leading the protest, and thanked him for his role in the discussions and the agitation.
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The withdrawal came shortly after Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha returned from New Delhi following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. On his arrival in the state, Saha said instructions had been given to the concerned officials to take necessary steps to resolve the issue.
The seven organisations had jointly launched the 72-hour strike to press their 11-point charter of demands. However, the agitation was called off on its second day after discussions with the district administration resulted in a consensus on most of the issues.
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With the blockade withdrawn, authorities are expected to focus on restoring normal road and rail movement and addressing the concerns raised by the returnee organisations. The episode has once again highlighted the importance of implementing rehabilitation commitments while ensuring that protests do not disrupt essential services or cause hardship to the general public.
