Agartala, 4th September 2026 : Normal movement on two of Tripura’s key transport lifelines was disrupted on Friday as more than 200 surrendered cadres of three former militant groups began a 72-hour blockade, demanding that the commitments made under the 2024 tripartite peace agreement be implemented without further delay.
The agitation was launched jointly by former members of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), NLFT’s Parimal Debbarma faction and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). Protesters positioned themselves at strategic points along both the railway and highway networks, severely affecting transportation in parts of the state.
Among the major blockade points were Hatai Kotor on the Assam-Agartala National Highway and Brigudasbari along the railway line in West Tripura. A separate protest was also reported from Khowai Chowmuhani in Khowai district.
The road blockade disrupted vehicular movement on the state’s principal highway connection with Assam, while the obstruction on the railway route brought train operations to a halt, causing inconvenience to passengers and commuters.
The former militants are seeking action on an 11-point charter of demands. At the centre of the agitation is their demand for immediate implementation of the tripartite agreement signed on September 4, 2024, between the three organisations, the Centre and the Tripura government.
The protesters have also sought security arrangements for former militant leaders and cadres, formal approval and inclusion of the names of surrendered members in the relevant list, withdrawal of pending criminal cases and powers relating to land acquisition and allotment for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Police have strengthened security at the blockade locations to prevent escalation and maintain public order. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the agitation affects both road and rail connectivity.
The timing of the protest has added political significance to the developments. The blockade began on the same day that a high-level meeting was scheduled in New Delhi involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma.
The meeting was expected to take up issues linked to the implementation of the tripartite settlement, making the protesters’ demands particularly significant.
The former insurgents have maintained that the peace agreement cannot remain confined to assurances and that its provisions must be converted into concrete administrative and political action. They have urged the authorities to address their demands and ensure that the commitments made during the peace process are fulfilled at the earliest.
