Hundreds of surrendered militants in Tripura withdrew their road and railway blockades on Friday afternoon following negotiations with senior government officials. Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, Inspector General of Police Krishnendu Chakraborty, and other officials engaged in talks with the former militants to address their demands. The blockades had severely disrupted vehicular movement and train services across Tripura since 6 a.m. on Friday.
The Northeast Frontier Railway controlled the movement of five passenger trains in various Tripura stations due to the railway line blockade enforced by surrendered militants. The blockades were initiated by former members of the National Liberation Front of Tripura and All Tripura Tiger Force, protesting the alleged non-implementation of key provisions in a tripartite agreement.
Around 450 tribal youths, who had surrendered as former extremists, organized blockades at three locations in West Tripura and Khowai districts, affecting National Highway-8 and the state’s only railway line. The surrendered militants claimed that the government had not fulfilled several commitments made under the agreement signed in 2024, despite assurances from authorities.
Former NLFT leader Prasanjit Debbarma stated that over 1,200 former militants had surrendered under various peace accords, expecting rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration. Allegations were made that many commitments under the tripartite agreement remained unmet, with only a small number of cadres benefiting from the rehabilitation package. The surrendered militants highlighted their grievances to state and Central governments, citing financial difficulties and incomplete implementation of the rehabilitation provisions.
