Three organizations working for the rehabilitation and reintegration of surrendered militants in Tripura—AC, JARC, and DRMC—on Wednesday strongly criticized the state government for its continued failure to address their long-pending welfare and rehabilitation demands. The organizations voiced their concerns during a press conference held at the Agartala Press Club, accusing the government of neglect and breach of trust.
Leaders of the organizations recalled that on December 22, 2025, they were forced to block the Assam–Agartala National Highway to draw attention to their grievances. During the protest, the Jirania Sub-Divisional Magistrate met them and conveyed that the Tribal Welfare Minister, Bikash Debbarma, had deputed him to hold discussions. The SDM assured the protestors that a formal meeting with the minister would take place on December 23, 2025. Acting in the interest of the general public, the organizations withdrew the highway blockade based on this assurance.
However, the promised meeting never materialized. According to the leaders, when a five-member delegation from their central committee reached the minister’s conference hall on the scheduled day, they were informed by the Tribal Welfare Director that the minister had left for an urgent meeting in Chawmanu. The organizations termed the incident a serious breach of trust and expressed deep resentment over what they described as disrespectful treatment.
“He is a minister and he gave us his word, but he failed to honor it,” one leader stated, adding that such disregard was unexpected and unacceptable. The organizations warned that if Minister Bikash Debbarma does not sit for talks with them by January 26, 2026, they will be compelled to launch a larger and more intense agitation.
Reiterating their demands, the leaders called for the immediate release of the remaining Rs 23 crore from the Rs 45 crore rehabilitation package announced in 2007, restoration of fencing assistance under the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission to its earlier rate of Rs 16,800 per year instead of the reduced Rs 6,000, and withdrawal of pending legal cases against surrendered militants.
With the threat of renewed protests looming, pressure is mounting on the state government to take decisive action before the situation escalates further.
