Students Suffer as Road Blockade Paralyzes Bishramganj Despite DM’s Clarification, TTAADC CEM Accused of Misleading Public

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 6, 2026

Normal life was badly affected in Bishramganj since today morning following a road blockade enforced by a section of Tipra Motha supporters in the name civil society members protesting the formation of the newly recommended Bishramganj Nagar Panchayat. The agitation caused severe hardship to students, examinees and daily commuters, with many college students and candidates appearing for examinations compelled to walk long distances on foot to reach their centres.

Despite repeated appeals from students and local residents, the protesters refused to lift the blockade, resulting in prolonged traffic disruption on the vital Gomati–South Tripura connecting route. Passengers travelling towards Gomati and South Tripura districts remained stranded for hours, facing acute inconvenience.

Importantly, Sepahijala District Magistrate Shri Sidharth Jaiswal, IAS has categorically clarified that there is no land belonging to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) within the newly recommended jurisdiction of the Bishramganj Nagar Panchayat. District administration sources stated that the proposal was prepared strictly on the basis of official revenue records and existing administrative boundaries, and that no ADC land has been included.

However, despite this official clarification, a section of Tipra Motha supporters launched the agitation from today morning, alleging violation of constitutional provisions and opposing the Nagar Panchayat formation. The blockade continued even as students and emergency commuters appealed for relief.

Meanwhile, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member (CEM) Purna Chandra Jamatia wrote to Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha raising objections over the Nagar Panchayat, alleging that TTAADC land had been included without the council’s consent. In his letter, the CEM claimed that the area in question historically fell under ADC jurisdiction and cited past instances where council consent was obtained for establishing major government institutions such as the district hospital, the Superintendent of Police office and TGBRSETI.

However, administration sources and a section of officials have alleged that the CEM himself has misled the public by making such claims, as official records do not indicate the presence of any TTAADC land within the proposed Nagar Panchayat limits. They maintain that the letter addressed to the chief minister has created unnecessary confusion and fuelled public agitation, despite the district administration’s clear position on the matter.

Sources further stated that no consultation was required with the TTAADC as the Nagar Panchayat area does not overlap with ADC jurisdiction. They asserted that spreading contrary claims without verification has led to avoidable tension, directly affecting students, examinees and the general public.

The CEM, in his communication, sought exclusion of alleged ADC land from the Nagar Panchayat, joint verification and boundary demarcation, and assurance that no future jurisdictional changes would be made without council consent. However, the district administration reiterated that there is no question of exclusion, as no TTAADC land has been included in the first place.

As the situation remained tense till the filing of this report, students and commuters urged all stakeholders to resolve the issue responsibly, warning that repeated road blockades are severely disrupting academic schedules, examinations and essential public movement.

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