Tripura trains disrupted as TMP-backed Tiprasa Civil Society calls 24-hour shutdown over illegal migration, TTAADC elections, and tribal rights. NFR cancels multiple trains, leaving passengers stranded while police maintain control.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Thursday cancelled, short-terminated, and controlled several trains across Tripura following a state-wide blockade organized by activists of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP)-affiliated Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS). The disruption affected both express and local trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded amid mounting tension in the north-eastern state.
According to NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, a total of nine trains—including four major express services—were impacted. Among these, the Sabroom–Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express, Charlapalli–Agartala Express, Silchar–Agartala Express, and Agartala–Silchar Express were either cancelled or short-terminated. Five additional local trains were similarly affected.
“The sudden cancellation and short-termination of these trains created significant difficulties for passengers,” Sharma said, adding that the railway authorities had to take immediate action after tracks were blocked at multiple points across the state by bandh supporters.
The 24-hour shutdown was called by the Tiprasa Civil Society, led by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma, in support of an eight-point charter of demands. Central to their demands is the deportation of illegal migrants, immediate implementation of the Tiprasa Accord, and introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to prevent infiltration.
Other key demands include establishing detention camps for illegal immigrants and holding long-pending Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Debbarma, a senior TMP leader, emphasized that while several BJP-ruled states—such as Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi—have taken measures against illegal immigrants, the Tripura government has failed to act despite directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“The BJP government holds elections in all urban and rural bodies, but is not holding the elections to the Village Committees under the TTAADC,” Debbarma told the media.
The shutdown was widely observed, with picketers carrying national flags and organizing sit-in demonstrations at more than 52 key locations, including two points along railway tracks in West Tripura and Khowai districts. Roads across the state, including National Highway-8—the lifeline of Tripura—were blocked at several points, severely impacting vehicular movement.
Despite the blockade, government offices and banks remained largely operational, while private offices, shops, and business establishments saw minimal attendance. A senior police official assured that “there is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state,” stating that the situation was under control with significant deployments of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The Tipra Motha Party, led by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, has long been advocating for greater rights for Tripura’s tribal population. Since 2021, the TMP has governed the 30-member TTAADC, which covers roughly two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area and is home to more than 12.16 lakh people, about 84% of whom are tribal.
After year-long deliberations and a tripartite agreement signed on March 2, 2024, the TMP joined the BJP-led coalition in the Tripura government on March 7, 2024. Two TMP MLAs—Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma—were inducted into the state ministry headed by Chief Minister Manik Saha.
Despite being part of the ruling coalition, TMP continues to press its demands, including the creation of “Greater Tipraland,” a separate state for tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, and the early conduct of Village Committee elections in TTAADC areas. On September 9, 2025, the party also organized a demonstration in Delhi to amplify its demands at the national level.
The Tripura government had earlier issued a notification declaring that all government offices would remain open on October 23, urging employees to continue work despite the bandh. Chief Minister Manik Saha criticized the shutdown, stating that “development cannot be stalled by observing strikes in the state.” Without naming any organization, he implied that NGOs were attempting to garner media attention through the bandh.
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary and Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury also opposed the strike, noting that the demands raised were not directly related to the common public.
The train cancellations disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers, while road blockades hindered movement on highways and state roads. Although essential services such as healthcare remained functional, business activities, public transportation, and markets in several areas suffered a complete halt.
Officials continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring public safety while seeking to restore normalcy as swiftly as possible. NFR authorities have appealed to passengers to check the status of trains before traveling and to cooperate with local authorities in light of ongoing disruptions.
As Tripura grapples with political unrest and public demonstrations, the TMP-led shutdown underscores persistent demands from the tribal population for political and administrative reforms. The government and security agencies are likely to remain on high alert in the coming days to prevent escalation and maintain law and order.
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While the bandh has temporarily disrupted rail services and commerce, stakeholders across Tripura await dialogue between the government and TMP leadership to address core issues like illegal migration, TTAADC elections, and tribal rights, which continue to shape the state’s political narrative.
