Tripura DM Dr Vishal Kumar-led team meets protesting ex-militants, but talks fail to end the 72-hour strike over 11 demands linked to peace accord implementation.
A team of administrative and police officials led by West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar on Friday met representatives of protesting former militants and appealed to them to withdraw their 72-hour strike, but the talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
The strike, which began on Friday morning, has been called by seven organisations representing former militants who have returned to normal life following peace agreements with the government. The protesting groups have raised an 11-point charter of demands, primarily concerning the implementation of commitments made under the memorandum of settlement signed between the government and the banned outfits.
The meeting was attended by West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Jirania. The officials attempted to address the concerns raised by the protesting organisations and assured them that the government remained committed to fulfilling the commitments made under the peace accord.
However, the former militants refused to withdraw the strike, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the manner in which the settlement had been implemented so far. Their representatives maintained that several commitments remained unresolved and demanded concrete action from the authorities.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar said seven returnee organisations had gathered and launched the strike, including a blockade of the national highway.
“A total of seven returnees organisations have gathered here and called for a strike blocking the national highway. We have spoken to them. They have certain demands related to the implementation of the accord,” Dr Kumar said.
The District Magistrate stressed that the government was committed to the welfare of the former militants and said efforts would be made to resolve any misunderstanding between the authorities and the returnee organisations.
“If there exists, any misunderstanding that would be resolved immediately. We hope that both the parties—the government as well as the returnees’ organisations—must work together in a cohesive and time bound manner,” he said.
Dr Kumar further assured the protesting representatives that the commitments made by the government would be fulfilled. He acknowledged that some time might be required to complete the process and appealed to the organisations to end the strike.
“The commitments made by the government shall be fulfilled for sure. It is just that some time is required and we hope this strike will soon come to an end,” the District Magistrate said.
During the meeting, SDM Jirania formally received the 11-point charter of demands submitted by the protesting groups. He said the memorandum would be forwarded to the higher authorities for consideration and necessary action.
Despite the assurances from the administration, the protesting former militants decided to continue with their agitation, highlighting the widening gap between their expectations and the pace of implementation of the peace accord.
The latest development comes as the former militants intensify pressure on the government for time-bound implementation of rehabilitation, welfare and other commitments made under the settlement. The administration has indicated that the demands will be examined and communicated to the appropriate authorities.
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With the strike continuing, attention is now focused on whether further discussions between the government and the returnee organisations can help resolve the outstanding issues and bring an end to the ongoing protest.
