BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 10th April 2025: On the occasion of Paush Sankranti, what is traditionally a day of celebration turned into one of frustration and protest across parts of the Karbook subdivision, as hundreds of workers blocked roads demanding unpaid wages pending for over three to four months.
The protests erupted early in the morning in three separate locations: the main road near Ghoraghappa under Shilachari Police Station, the Bairagi Bazar area under Notunbazar Police Station, and near the Goriya Mission School, also under Notunbazar PS. All three locations fall under the Karbook subdivision in Gomati district.
Anger had been brewing among daily wage labourers and small traders for months over delayed payments under various government-linked schemes. On Thursday morning, the discontent spilled onto the roads, triggering massive blockades that disrupted vehicular traffic and daily life from 9 AM onwards.
The impact of the blockades was felt deeply—school-going children, office-goers, transport workers, and patients heading to health centres were stranded for hours, with no way around the blocked roads. The disruption continued for nearly five hours before senior officials from the GRS and Karbook Block arrived on the scene.
After prolonged discussions with the protesters, officials issued a written assurance that all pending wages would be disbursed within the next ten days. Only after receiving this written commitment did the protestors agree to lift the blockade.
