Pradyot’s refrain on ‘Thansa’ degenerating into targeting of Chakma tribesmen, tension growing

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, March 14, 2026

Ever since he threw in his lot with the exclusionary ethno-centric politics the ‘Tipra Motha’ chief Pradyot Kishore has been known for his constant refrain on ‘Thansa’ (unity) and ‘Puila Jati, Ola Party’ (nation first and party second) even though his own actual ethnic identity is in question. But now a new challenge confronts divisive Pradyot and his party as his call for ‘Thansa’ seems to have degenerated into targeting of Chakma tribesmen of the state.

This has come to light from a recent incident in Raisyabari market and Narikel Kunja tourist lodge near it . A few months back local ‘Tipra Motha’ leader Sukumar Debbarma had gone to the Nariken Kunja tourist lodge, accompanied by his supporters. Most of the small traders and hawkers in the Narikel Kunja area belong to the Chakma tribal community and they conversed with Sukumar and his companions in Bengali language in stead of ‘Kokborok’ which they do not know. Angered by this Sukumar went on an interrogation spree to ascertain how many of the Chakma small traders and vendors know ‘Kokborok’ and found that except one or two none could communicate in Tripura’s tribal lingua franca. He then threatened them with dire consequences asserting that if they wanted to stay in Tripura they must learn speaking and writing ‘Kokborok’.

This unsavoury episode had created a furore among the members of the Chakma tribal community and the matter reached Pradyot Kishore . He reportedly chided his party leader Sukumar Debbarma and forced him to post a video in social media tendering an apology for what he had done and promising never to do this again. But the matter did not end there as a sizable section of Chakma and Mog or Marma tribesmen living in south Tripura and Dhalai districts had originally migrated from Chittagong hill-tracts of Bangladesh long ago but many of them are yet to learn communicating in ‘Kokborok’ though they are not averse to learning the language . But sources from interior areas said that the over-enthusiasm of Pradyot’s supporters in ‘Tipra Motha’ has created a feeling of insecurity among the Chakma and Mog tribesmen and women and things may worsen in the near future.

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