Surrendered Tripura militants begin 72-hour shutdown over unfulfilled peace accord

Former militants from Tripura’s banned National Liberation Front of Tripura and All Tripura Tiger Force began a 72-hour shutdown on Friday, saying the government had failed to deliver the rehabilitation benefits promised under a peace accord signed two years ago.

The protesters blocked highways, burned tyres at Hatai Kotor and disrupted railway tracks. They are demanding the implementation of every point in the tripartite peace accord, the withdrawal of cases against surrendered cadres and clean certificates for those who laid down their arms. These demands form part of a six-point charter.

The agreement was signed in Delhi on September 4, 2024, under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and other officials from the Home Ministry attended. The central government approved a ₹250 crore package to support the rebels’ transition.

“The accord was signed in 2024 that promised the Tiprasas a package of ₹250 crores for their rehabilitation. As all assurances from the government failed to implement it, we started our agitation from today. It will continue for 72 hours,” a surrendered leader said.

The group previously held a road blockade on June 12 and ended it after receiving assurances from Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma. At least 584 NLFT and ATTF militants surrendered in September 2024, three weeks after the central government signed a settlement with the Tripura government and the two groups. The region experienced repeated violence involving banned militant organizations from the 1980s through the early 2000s.

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The accord was signed in 2024 that promised the Tiprasas a package of ₹250 crores for their rehabilitation. As all assurances from the government failed to implement it, we started our agitation from today. It will continue for 72 hours.