BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 5th February 2026 : For decades, journalists of Tripura have fought shoulder to shoulder, using the fourth estate as a weapon to preserve the state’s soil as tolerant, democratic, and crime-free. Alongside this larger struggle, the journalistic community has repeatedly been compelled to defend its own professional dignity and personal security.
After a long period, a comparatively tolerant and democratically minded government has been formed in this remote state under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. This change has reduced the intensity of well-planned, state-sponsored attacks on print, audio-visual, and digital journalists, while also widening the scope for free and responsible journalism. Yet, there is no room for complacency.
Disturbing signs have begun to re-emerge. From certain quarters, the “ugly laughter of hyenas” is once again being heard, threatening the fragile atmosphere of peace. Vested interests, hiding behind political power, are allegedly conspiring to curtail the democratic rights of the media and to fracture the traditional unity of journalists through divisive tactics. If resisted late, these efforts may further poison the democratic environment.
Adopting Rabindranath Tagore’s call — “It is time to awaken” — senior journalists have appealed to all media workers, including photojournalists, reporters, editors, and newspaper distributors from Dharmanagar to Sakram, to assemble at 11:00 am on February 9 in front of Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, Agartala. A representative meeting with the Chief Minister will follow, where a detailed charter of demands will be submitted.
Charter of Demands includes: Immediate security for all categories of journalists; Speedy completion of trials and punishment of culprits in the murders of journalists Sudip Datta Bhowmik and Shantanu Bhowmik; Strict action against elements misusing administrative power and social media to silence the press; Free residential land for economically weaker journalists; Doubling of Journalist Welfare Fund and pension allocations in the upcoming budget; Concessions on electricity bills and enhanced advertisement rates for recognized media, including weekly newspapers; New guidelines on press stickers to prevent misuse; Group insurance and special allowances for newspaper distributors; and Protection of editors from misuse of breach-of-privilege motions and threats within the Legislative Assembly.
The appeal emphasizes that unity and vigilance remain the strongest safeguards of democracy and press freedom in Tripura.
Senior journalists Sanit Debroy and Pranab Sarkar wrote this letter addressing media personnel in Tripura.
