12-hour bandh called by Tripura People's Front underway; normal life affected
Agartala: The Tripura People's Front (TPF) has called a 12-hour Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Bandh to protest against the death of fireman Biswajit Debbarma. The strike has disrupted national highway and rail services.
On November 21, fireman Biswajit Debbarma was killed after a clash erupted during a national highway road blockade in Panisagar.
The bandh has affected Dhalai, North Tripura, South Tripura and Gomati district.
The Joint Movement Committee has been protesting against the resettlement of Bru families in Kanchanpur sub-division since last November 16. The protests turned violent on Saturday last during the national highway blockade, which claimed two lives including a protestor Srikanta Das and fireman Biswajit Debbarma.
In the wake of his death, tribal-based political parties in the hills have also resorted to protests. Ruling coalition partner, the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura(IPFT) has been demanding punishment for the culprits behind the tragic death of Biswajit Debbarma.
The 12-hour ADC shutdown called by the TPF has paralysed the movement of railway and transportation in Teliamura sub-divisions Trisha Bari area in Khowai district.
Large numbers of police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) forces have been deployed to control the situation.
The Bandh is causing trouble to people from patients to passengers. A patient's family member said there have been many closures in the past. However, hospital passengers, ambulances, etc. were kept out of the restriction.
“Today, despite many pleas, the protestors did not allow us to go. The picketers did not allow the patient to drive to the hospital. We were forced to return," he said.
The TPF workers also blocked the Assam-Agartala national highway. TPF activists are protesting in Madhabbari, Champaknagar and 36 miles of Atharamura hill.
