TIPRA Motha calls for protest on illegal foreigners’ issue

TIPRA Motha, alliance partner of the ruling BJP in Tripura, has called for protests to demand measures to detect and deport illegal foreigners from the State. The decision was taken with the approval of the party’s founder, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.

Sources close to the TIPRA said the fresh demand was unveiled as a “ploy” to pacify the week-long protests against Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma for refusing to meet the TIPRA founder, Pradyot and Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the tribal autonomous district council, Purna Chandra Jamatia, to discuss some urgent issues concerning welfare projects.

The issue triggered major protests in Gomati district with youth activists of the party locking up government offices in Gomati district. The State administration apparently protected the District Magistrate but withdrew the district SP and the Additional SP for failing to control the mob from resorting to locking the government offices.

The senior police officers have now been attached to the police headquarters in Agartala.

Sources said senior TIPRA leadership had reached an understanding with top leaders in the coalition government not to demand the transfer of the District Magistrate. Thus, the party adopted a new protest programme to divert the irate youth activists from the District Magistrate issue.

Extremist turned TIPRA MLA Ranjit Debbarma led a delegation to the Governor to place a set of demands on the infiltration issue and demand the expulsion of illegal foreigners. They, however, did not specify who will be branded as the infiltrators.

Taking the cue from the TIPRA Motha, IPFT, a smaller partner in the coalition, on Sunday (June 8, 2025) demanded strict measures against foreigners. The party leaders, who spoke at a press conference, said infiltrators who are detained for illegal trespass should be kept in ‘detention centres’.

Published - June 08, 2025 09:14 pm IST