Agartala: A section of former militants has issued a warning of a 72-hour “chakka bandh” (vehicle shutdown) across Tripura starting September 4, demanding fulfilment of various long-pending claims and promises. The announcement has triggered intense discussion in political and administrative circles across the state. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, and Minister Bikash Debbarma have all reacted to the proposed programme.
The former militants have said that many promises made to them in the past remain unfulfilled. According to them, despite long appealing to various quarters for these demands to be met, the lack of a satisfactory resolution has led to the decision to move toward agitation — hence the warning of the 72-hour shutdown from September 4.
In this context, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s response has taken on particular significance. While outlining the government’s position on the matter, he stressed the importance of maintaining peace and order in the state, while also signalling openness to resolving the issue through dialogue.
Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury also shared his views on the former militants’ demands and the prevailing situation, saying the government needs to take effective initiative on their long-standing problems and demands. He also stressed that the normal life of the general public should not be disrupted.
Minister Bikash Debbarma responded as well, highlighting ongoing discussions and efforts toward resolving the demands, and said the government is closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the proposed 72-hour shutdown from September 4 has raised various concerns among the public, with fears of disruption to vehicular movement and daily life if the programme goes ahead. All eyes are now on whether the matter can be resolved through dialogue before the deadline.