Former members of the surrendered National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have decided to proceed with their previously announced 72-hour statewide strike from June 12, alleging prolonged delays in the implementation of commitments made under a peace accord signed with the Centre and the Tripura government.
The decision was reaffirmed on Thursday after day-long discussions between leaders of the surrendered groups and officials of the Tribal Welfare Department failed to produce a breakthrough. According to the former militants, no concrete assurance was provided by the government regarding the fulfilment of their key demands.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Alendra Debbarma, president of a faction of the surrendered ATTF, said the organisation had no option but to continue with the agitation as the government had yet to take effective steps towards implementing the agreement.
The strike was first announced earlier this week during a press conference jointly addressed by representatives of the surrendered NLFT and ATTF. Following the announcement, the Tribal Welfare Department invited the leaders for talks in an attempt to resolve the issue and avert the proposed agitation.
A meeting chaired by Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma was held at the Civil Secretariat on Thursday. However, both sides failed to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.
As per the earlier programme, members of the surrendered groups will launch road blockades at several locations from Friday morning. Alendra Debbarma said blockades would be staged at Brighu Chandra Das Para in the Baramura Hills and at Subal Singh area in Khowai district.
The former militants have alleged that despite the Memorandum of Settlement signed on September 4, 2024, a ₹250-crore rehabilitation and development package promised under the agreement has not been implemented. They claim that the delay has adversely affected the rehabilitation process and left many former cadres struggling to rebuild their lives.
The organisations have urged the government to honour the commitments made under the accord without further delay.
