Tipra-Motha’s dawn-to-dusk strike over ‘Greater Tipraland’ evokes mixed response

The 12-hours dawn-to-dusk strike called by opposition Tipra-Motha in Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas over its demand for ‘Greater Tipraland’ , which started at 6 am Saturday ended peacefully, which has evoked mixed response despite some stray incidents . Till now, the protest is uneventful, garnering mixed reactions from the different parts of the state.

Tipra-Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman said that the party will continue to fight for its core demand of 'Greater Tipraland' for the tribals, who according to him are deprived of basic facilities in education, health and other areas.

He said that is not in favour of any communal politics but added that they observed the bandh confined only in ADC areas as beyond that they don’t have much influence and the dawn-to-dusk strike in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas has been called to convey a clear message to the Central government that the patience of the indigenous people is exhausting, and they are in urgent need to resolve their constitutional demands and concerns.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, opposition leader Animesh Debbarma said Motha supporters were engaged in picketing at as many as 29 locations among the state’s ADC areas in West Tripura district alone. They have also put up a blockade on the rail tracks.

Their demand is simple and they want Greater Tipraland. He added that that tribals were deprived of development, were stripped of land rights, cultural rights etc, despite being assured 76 years back at the time of the state’s merger with the Indian union and all tribals of Tripura today want a separate state for overall development through constitutional remedies.

He also said the strike is being observed peacefully and no one except emergency services like security forces, ambulance services, milk vans, media and wedding vehicles are being allowed to pass.

While, AIG (Law and Order) Jyotishman Das Chowdhury said the strike remained peaceful till its end in the evening and road blockades have been put up in at least 70 locations of the state apart from rail blockades at Manu in Ambassa district, Mungiakami in West Tripura and Kalacherra in South Tripura district.

The picketers gathered in support of Bandh at Sadhupara area of National Highway at Baramura hill ranges have ransacked one ambulance and security forces have also recovered one crude bomb from their agitaitional spot. So far, no arrest has been made, said Das Chowdhury and added that the bandh is totally peaceful.

The state government Friday had issued a notification mandating all officials and employees to compulsorily attend office on Saturday and the police were instructed to ensure necessary law and order arrangements to ensure no untoward incidents happen.

In a memorandum, Under Secretary of the General Administration Department P Das said it is imperative that all offices, government undertakings and state government organisations in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) function normally on the day of the bandh and all government employees and employees of all such undertakings and organisations should perform their duties as usual on the day.

In view of the 12-hour ADC strike, the order said any violation of the instructions by government employees and employees of all undertakings and organizations “will be viewed seriously”.