The pan-India general strike called by altogether 56 Trade Unions evoked mixed response in Tripura and sporadic violence was reported from Agartala and other parts of the state. The trade unions called the strike demanding to the Centre to provide 200 days’ work in a year at enhanced wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The unions have also demanded withdrawal of anti-farmer and anti-worker labour codes, scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS), restoration of the earlier pension scheme with improvement in EPS-95 etc.
Miscreants ransacked party headquarters of CPI, vandalized the main entrance of the CITU office and attacked SUCI office – all these vandalism took place in Agartala. However, no one was injured.
One media person reported to be prevented from taking photographs of vandalism. In another instance, a media person faced assaults at Boxanagar under Sepahijala district while he was collecting news on Bandh.
Meanwhile, in Sabroom, the southernmost sub-division of Tripura, altogether four offices of CPI-M party and a trade union were set on fire by miscreants believed to be affiliated with the ruling BJP.
According to CPIM leader and former minister Manik Dey, the BJP cadres had set party’s divisional offices in Sabroom ablaze and left many injured during their forced endeavour to bring people to the markets and place of work, who have in principle supported the Bandh.
In Agartala, the strike got a mixed response. Most of the shops remained closed – busy commercial areas in Agartala missed usual hustle-bustle. Majority PSU banks remained shut in Agartala and other parts of the State. However, rickshaws, e-rickshaws and auto services remained unaffected.
Late in the evening, some of the shops pulled up their shutters and brisk business ensured. Government Offices and PSUs remained opened.
Outside Agartala, the Bandh received lukewarm responses as most of the areas witnessed normal course of the day – markets and shops remained opened. Less than average vehicular movements were noticed across the State.
Both in Agartala and other parts of the State, the overall traffic remained less than the usual times in almost all parts of the state. Meanwhile, CPI-M MLA Islam Uddin was gheraoed by some miscreants in North Tripura and was later rescued by police.