Tripura Civil Society has called for a 24-hour strike on Thursday (October 23). Tipra Motha Party (TMP) MLA Ranjit Debbarma, who is leading the agitation, said barricades would be installed at 25 places across the state to enforce the bandh. Barricades will also be installed at key locations in Agartala, such as the Circuit House, North Gate and the State Assembly. Debbarma said, “This is not a political movement where people of all sections will join the bandh rising above political ideology. We are ready to make this bandh successful in a peaceful manner in support of our demands.”
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Widespread tension and disruption was witnessed in Tripura today following a 24-hour statewide bandh called by Tiprasa Civil Society. The agitation, reportedly supported by Tipra Motha activists, led to several incidents of blockades, protests and administrative inaction, leading to public outrage and questions over the law and order situation in the state.
In Barmura Hills, an ambulance from the Teliamura sub-divisional hospital was allegedly stopped by bandh supporters, forcing it to return to the hospital without reaching its destination. Locals condemned the act as inhumane, while observers criticized police inaction despite repeated instructions by the Chief Minister to maintain normalcy.
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Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha reacted sharply to the bandh and said that life will be normal in Tripura and government employees will have to report for duty.However, many employees were stranded helplessly on the roads amid police restrictions and road blockades since morning. Citizens alleged that the police, instead of ensuring smooth movement, was diverting vehicles and passengers through long routes, especially near the North Gate area of Agartala.
Meanwhile, bandh supporters stopped the Agartala-Karimganj Express at Birgudas area of Jiraniya. Members of Tiprasa Civil Society protested on the railway tracks demanding strict action against illegal immigrants. This caused a temporary halt to rail traffic and created tension in the surrounding areas.
There were also reports from Belfang area and Shantirbazar subdivision of Khowai, where bandh supporters staged a sit-in, closing markets and halting transport. Eyewitnesses described the scenes as reminiscent of the unrest during earlier political movements in Tripura.
Critics alleged that the bandh called by civil society had the tacit support of Tipra Motha and that parts of the state machinery indirectly facilitated it, while the police remained mere spectators. Opposition voices on social media questioned the silence of key BJP organizations and accused the administration of adopting double standards and secretly collaborating to ensure the success of the bandh.
Many recalled that during the Left rule, the foothills of Barmura had once become the epicenter of a political movement, a movement that had long-term electoral consequences. Observers are now seeing echoes of that history, and warning that today’s developments could signal a deep political realignment in the hills and plains of Tripura.
Public sentiment remained divided, with a section expressing solidarity with the bandh’s call for indigenous rights and anti-illegal immigration measures, while others condemned the disruption of essential services and obstruction of emergency vehicles.
Political analysts believe that today’s bandh reflects the increasing polarization in the political scenario of the state. As one observer put it, “All the former militants of Tripura have now united under the political banner of Tipra Motha. Meanwhile, the police seem to be caught between government orders and the reality on the ground.”
As the day progressed, tension increased in many areas of the state, with questions being raised over administrative preparedness and police accountability. However, the citizens made one thing clear that the peace and harmony of Tripura is at a critical juncture.