Surrendered militants from the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) on Friday launched a 72-hour blockade of National Highway-8 and railway lines across Khowai and West Tripura districts, demanding fulfilment of an 11-point charter that centres on economic rehabilitation promised under a tripartite peace agreement signed on 4 September 2024. Around 400 former cadres are participating in the agitation, which has disrupted the surface and rail lifeline of the landlocked state.

Scale of the Disruption

According to a police spokesman, blockades have been erected at three locations in Khowai and West Tripura districts, bringing vehicular movement on NH-8 — the primary road artery connecting Tripura to the rest of the country — to a standstill. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) cancelled or short-terminated 10 express and local trains in response, compounding the impact on daily commuters and goods movement across the state. A large contingent of security personnel, led by senior police officials, has been deployed at the blockade points.

What the Former Militants Are Demanding

Spokesman Jibonjoy Reang told reporters that many surrendered cadres remain homeless and without livelihood, contrary to assurances given by the state government at the time of surrender. 'Many of our surrendered cadres remain homeless, and they are facing serious hardship due to the non-availability of livelihood opportunities as assured by the state government,' Reang said.

He warned that the groups would escalate to an indefinite state-wide agitation unless the government provides a written commitment on their demands. 'We are ready to withdraw our blockade if we get a written assurance from the state government,' he added.

Background: The 2024 Peace Agreement

The NLFT and ATTF cadres formally laid down arms after signing a tripartite accord with the Centre and the Tripura state government on 4 September 2024. Several hundred militants subsequently surrendered before Chief Minister Manik Saha at a ceremony held at the Tripura State Rifles' 7 Bn headquarters in Jampuijala, Sepahijala district, on 24 September 2024. The Central government had announced a rehabilitation package worth ₹250 crore, covering economic assistance, livelihood generation, and welfare measures for those who abandoned insurgency.

Former NLFT leader Prasanjit Debbarma alleged that although more than two years have passed since many former militants renounced violence, only a very few cadres have so far been identified as beneficiaries of the rehabilitation package. He said approximately 1,200 former militants surrendered under various peace accords, with the expectation of socio-economic reintegration — commitments he claims remain largely unfulfilled.

A Repeat of June's Blockade

This is not the first such action. The surrendered groups had launched a similar rail and highway blockade on 12 June, pressing the same rehabilitation demands, but withdrew after the state government appealed for time to address their concerns. The recurrence of the blockade suggests that the intervening period produced little tangible progress, raising questions about the pace of implementation of the tripartite agreement's provisions.

What Happens Next

The agitating groups have set a clear ultimatum: a written assurance from the state government or an escalation to an indefinite agitation across Tripura. With NH-8 blocked and train services curtailed, pressure on the state administration is mounting. How the Tripura government responds in the coming hours will determine whether the 72-hour shutdown is extended or resolved through dialogue.