Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday on the last day of Monsoon session said that the state government is leaving no stone unturned to resolve issues related to the rehabilitation of surrendered militants who have returned to mainstream life after abandoning the path of violence.
Participating in a discussion on a private member’s notice in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said a rehabilitation package had already been announced and technical teams were monitoring the implementation of the prescribed guidelines.
“There is no lack of effort from the state government’s side. The Tribal Welfare Minister has also been continuously holding discussions and working towards resolving the issues,” Dr Saha said.
The discussion was initiated during the post-lunch reference period following a notice moved by MLA Ranjit Debbarma regarding a news report published on August 22, 2026, titled “Former militants warn of 72-hour transport strike across Tripura from September 4.”
The proposed 72-hour Chakka Bandh (road blockade) by former militants from September 4 has sparked political and administrative discussions, with the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma reacting to the issue.
Representatives of the former militant groups claimed that several assurances made to them earlier have not been fully implemented. They alleged that despite repeatedly approaching authorities, their demands remained unresolved, forcing them to announce the agitation.
Responding to the proposed bandh, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha stressed the importance of maintaining peace and normalcy in the state and indicated that issues could be resolved through dialogue.
Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury said the government should take effective steps to address the long-pending grievances of the former militants. He also urged all stakeholders to ensure that the daily lives of common people are not affected.
Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma said the government was closely monitoring the situation and emphasised the need for discussions to find a permanent solution to the grievances.
During the Assembly discussion, Debbarma informed that a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on September 4, 2024, between the Government of India, Government of Tripura and representatives of NLFT (BM), NLFT (PD), NLFT (ORI) and ATTF for rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and socio-economic development of tribal areas in the state.
According to the Minister, a total of 91 cadres were verified under the agreement, including 69 from NLFT (BM), 16 from NLFT (PD), and members of NLFT (ORI) and ATTF.
He said an immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh per returnee had been sanctioned and deposited as fixed deposits in the Gurkhabasti Branch of Tripura Gramin Bank for all 91 beneficiaries.
The Minister further stated that vocational training programmes are currently underway and will continue for up to 36 months to help the surrendered cadres become self-reliant.
Meanwhile, concerns have grown among the public over the proposed 72-hour bandh, as it may disrupt vehicular movement and affect normal life across the state. Stakeholders believe that an early resolution through dialogue between the government and protesters could help avoid any inconvenience to citizens before September 4.