Agartala, 30th May 2026: The Tripura Guerrilla Returnees’ Demand Committee has announced an indefinite blockade of the Assam–Agartala National Highway and railway route from June 5, citing a lack of progress in fulfilling its demands.
Addressing a press conference, representatives of the organization said they have decided to resume their agitation after repeated appeals to the authorities allegedly failed to yield any concrete response.
The committee has put forward a five-point charter of demands, including the immediate revival of a Rs 23-crore rehabilitation package and the withdrawal of all pending cases against former militants who surrendered and returned to mainstream society.
A former militant leader stated that members of the group had laid down their arms before 1998 and rejoined normal life through negotiations with the then Left Front government. He said that on May 22, 2007, the government approved a ₹45-crore rehabilitation project aimed at ensuring the permanent rehabilitation and socio-economic development of surrendered militants.
According to the organization, implementation of the rehabilitation scheme began in 2008 and continued until 2018. However, they alleged that the project came to a standstill following a change in government and later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the government has not provided any clear information regarding the future of the project, they claimed.
The former militant leader further alleged that nearly Rs 22 crore of the sanctioned Rs 45 crore had already been spent, while the remaining funds have not yet been utilized. The committee is demanding that the remaining amount be used immediately to restart the rehabilitation project and fulfill commitments previously made to surrendered individuals.
The organization also accused the administration of ignoring its concerns despite repeated efforts to draw attention to the issue. It warned that if the matter is not resolved by June 5, members will launch an indefinite road and rail blockade at several key locations across the state.
The proposed blockade is expected to affect transportation and connectivity along the crucial Assam–Agartala corridor, a key lifeline for Tripura and other northeastern states.
