Agartala, Sep 4 (PTI) A joint committee representing surrendered militants of seven groups on Friday rejected the Tripura government’s appeal to withdraw the road and rail blockade until their demands are met.
The development came after Jirania sub-divisional magistrate Animesh Dhar approached the protesting former militants and appealed to them to withdraw the blockade.
Vehicular and railway traffic have been disrupted in five districts of the northeastern state following a 72-hour statewide strike called by three surrendered militant groups over an 11-point charter of demands, including implementation of the tripartite agreement under which they laid down arms.
The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) (Original), NLFT (PD) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) laid down arms after signing a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the state government in 2024.
The blockade was initially launched by the three surrendered militant organisations, but four other groups — NLFT (Nayanbashi), Joint Action Committee (JAC), Joint Action Rehabilitation Committee (JARC) and ATTF (Old) — later joined the agitation.
“We don’t want to sit on the road braving the sweltering heat, but the surrendered militants were forced to block railway and road connectivity to get the government’s promises implemented,” NLFT (Original) leader Prasenjit Debbarma told reporters.
“Although we have an 11-point list of demands, the government must immediately accept all the surrendered militants on the list. Out of over 1,200 cadres, only 91 have been accepted by the police so far,” he said, adding that all pending police cases against the cadres should also be withdrawn.
Debbarma said the agitation would intensify if the government did not agree to fulfil all their “legitimate demands” immediately.
Dhar, who held discussions with the leaders of the surrendered militants at Hatai Kotor in Jirania subdivision, said the administration had conveyed their demands to the higher authorities.
“Members of seven surrendered militant organisations joined the movement to press for their demands. We communicated their points to the higher-ups for taking necessary steps,” he said. PTI PS MNB
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