Assam–Agartala National Highway Hit Again as Surrendered NLFT–ATTF Cadres Begin 72-Hour Road and Rail Blockade
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 4, 2026
Normal life and transportation in Tripura are once again facing disruption as surrendered cadres associated with the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have launched a 72-hour statewide agitation from Friday, pressing the government to implement their demands linked to the September 4, 2024 Tripartite Peace Accord.
According to reports, the agitation began from 6 am on Friday and includes road and railway blockades at several locations. Reports from the ground indicate that road and rail movement has been affected around Hatai Kathar, Brigudas Para and Khowai Chowmuhani, while the Assam–Agartala National Highway remains a major focus of the protest. The groups had earlier announced that strategic road and railway routes would be blocked as part of the 72-hour programme.
The latest agitation has come after repeated protests and negotiations between representatives of the surrendered groups and the state government. The protesters allege that, although they surrendered their arms and returned to civilian life under the 2024 peace agreement, several important commitments relating to rehabilitation, financial assistance, livelihood opportunities and other welfare measures have still not been implemented satisfactorily.
The three groups involved in the current movement include NLFT (Original), NLFT (Parimal Debbarma faction) and ATTF. Their leaders have described the agitation as a democratic movement aimed at securing implementation of commitments made at the time of the peace settlement.
The returnee groups have now placed an 11-point set of demands before the authorities. Among their principal demands are immediate implementation of the 2024 peace accord, acceptance and inclusion of the list of cadres who surrendered, protection for former cadres and leaders, filling of ST backlog vacancies, and withdrawal of pending police cases against surrendered cadres.
They have also demanded implementation of SEDP projects, including projects involving privately owned land and individual and selected project components. On wider indigenous issues, the groups have raised demands concerning protection of Tiprasa land, a separate administrative arrangement, adoption and implementation of the Roman script for Kokborok, a unified customary law for Tiprasa people, restoration and renaming of traditional village names, and transfer of certain land acquisition and allotment powers to the TTAADC.
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