Amid the ongoing board examinations in Tripura, former insurgents of the Tripura United Indigenous Returnees People’s Council staged a road blockade at the foothills of Baramura Hills, causing severe inconvenience to students, teachers, and commuters. The protest, which lasted for seven hours, was aimed at pressuring the government to fulfill their 21-point demands. After assurances from administrative officials, the blockade was lifted, but the protesters have warned of a larger movement if their demands remain unmet.
The incident has drawn sharp reactions, with many recalling the hardships caused by previous blockades, such as the 11-day national highway blockade by the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) in 2017.
Historical Grievances and Political Allegations
The blockade has reignited discussions about past violent incidents in Tripura’s history. Many in the state still remember the brutal events associated with militant groups like ATTF and NLFT, which carried out kidnappings, murders, rapes, and arson, displacing countless Bengali families from tribal-dominated ADC areas. In particular, the 1980 ethnic violence remains a dark chapter, yet no judicial commission has been established to investigate the massacre, despite demands from several organizations, including the “Amra Bangali” party.
Adding to the controversy, a past remark by former CPIM Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty—”If I were born in a tribal family, I would have become a militant too”—has been cited as an indication of political complicity in the rise of militant organizations like TNV. Critics argue that successive governments, including the CPIM, Congress-TUJS coalition, and now the BJP, have pursued vote-bank politics through tribal appeasement rather than addressing the core issues of security and justice.
Call for Action by ‘Amra Bangali’ Party
Condemning the recent road blockade and past incidents of violence, the “Amra Bangali” party has put forward key demands, including:
- The formation of a Judicial Inquiry Commission to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the June 1980 massacre and other atrocities.
- Compensation, security, and rehabilitation for all victims—both tribal and non-tribal—who suffered due to ethnic violence.
- Employment generation for all sections of society through effective utilization of Tripura’s natural and human resources.
- Protection of Bengalis’ constitutional rights and an end to misinformation campaigns against them.
