TGRDC Withdraws Rail-Road Blockade After Talks With Tripura Government

The Tripura Guerrilla Returnees’ Demand Committee (TGRDC) , a platform representing surrendered militants, has withdrawn its proposed rail-road blockade scheduled for June 5 after a meeting with the state government, officials said on Thursday.

The decision followed discussions held under the chairmanship of Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma , where representatives of surrendered militants raised their five-point demand , primarily focused on rehabilitation and livelihood support .

According to the Tribal Welfare Department, the government assured the delegation that their concerns would be examined and addressed in a phased manner, leading to the withdrawal of the agitation plan.

The proposed blockade had been planned to coincide with the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state.

A senior official said that rehabilitation under the CM Rubber Mission was a key point of discussion. The programme aims to provide livelihood opportunities through rubber plantations for surrendered militants. Initially, the project covered 30,000 hectares , which was later expanded to 69,000 hectares .

However, officials noted that additional funding required for the expanded plantation area has not yet been fully arranged. The state government has already approached the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for supplementary financial support to implement the project effectively.

Director of the Tribal Welfare Department Subhasish Das said a follow-up meeting involving concerned departments and representatives of surrendered militants will be held on June 9 to work towards a more comprehensive rehabilitation framework.

The government has indicated that the upcoming discussions will focus on ensuring long-term livelihood solutions for the surrendered militants, aiming to prevent future unrest over rehabilitation issues.