BY TC News Desk
Agartala, August 09: Amidst the backdrop of upcoming by-elections in two assembly constituencies across the state, a palpable demand for village committee elections has yet to be addressed, prompting TIPRA Motha activists from the Killa area to take bold action. On Wednesday, these activists symbolically hung a lock on the entrance gate of the Killa block, signifying their resolve to highlight not only the demand for village committee elections but also several other pressing issues.
Initiating a deputation strategy, Motha workers enacted the symbolic lockdown by securing the block gate at noon. The move was aimed at drawing attention to the long-standing demand for village committee elections, a critical governance issue.
In response to the incident, Additional District Magistrate Sumit Lodh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jayanta Bhattacharya, and Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate Raju Deb promptly convened at the Killa Block. A meeting ensued within the confines of the Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office, led by BDO David Hallam.
The TIPRA Motha activists voiced their concerns during the meeting, emphasizing the need to curb corruption within the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) projects, and advocating for the replacement of the current Killa Block Advisory Committee (BAC) Chairman and the alteration of ADC Village conveners.
The symbolic protest continued for a notable duration, with the activists persistently locking the block gate for three hours. Following this determined demonstration, the administration extended their assurance to address the grievances put forth by the activists. Consequently, the protest was brought to an end.
As the region gears up for forthcoming by-elections, the display of grassroots activism through symbolic acts like the Killa block lockdown underscores the public’s fervent call for addressing essential governance matters, including village committee elections, transparency, and equitable representation.
