Agartala — An indefinite strike and blockade of the Assam–Agartala National Highway and railway lines, announced by surrendered militants over three pending demands, was withdrawn late Thursday evening after a crucial meeting with Tripura’s Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma.
The agitation, called under the banner of the Tripura Guerilla Returnees Demand Committee (TGDRC – pre-1998 returnees), was scheduled to begin on Friday, coinciding with the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Agartala. The group had planned to block the national highway and railway tracks at Hatai Kotor in the Baramura foothills to press for implementation of their long-pending three-point charter of demands.
Hours before the proposed blockade, the state government invited TGDRC leaders for talks at the Minister’s official residence. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Director of the Tribal Welfare Department and a magistrate from the SDM office.
After the discussions, TGDRC leader Amit Reang announced the withdrawal of the agitation, stating that the organisation was satisfied with the assurances given by the government. One of the key demands relates to ₹45 crore sanctioned during the previous Left Front government for rehabilitation of pre-1998 returnees. Of this, ₹22 crore was reportedly spent between 2008 and 2018, while ₹23 crore remains unutilised. The returnees also sought payment of pending dues linked to rubber plantations and other rehabilitation benefits.
Debbarma confirmed that detailed discussions were held and said officials have been directed to trace relevant documents and arrange the remaining funds. He added that if pending amounts cannot be located, alternative measures would be taken to ensure economic self-reliance through government schemes.
With the blockade called off, normal traffic and train services are expected to remain unaffected.
