Residents of five villages in Kailashahar under the Unakoti District of Tripura, staged a prolonged protest on Monday demanding urgent attention to their critical infrastructure needs. The villagers, frustrated by the lack of a proper road, clean drinking water, and reliable electricity, blocked the main Kailashahar-Kumarghat road for nearly six hours. The road blockade threw the traffic out of gear and over 500 passengers had a tough time.
The affected villages, located under Ward No. 4 of Unakoti ADC Village, include Dhatu Chhara, P.G.P Colony Para, Bhurshi Para, Nalo Halam Para, and Tailen Bari. Primarily inhabited by Halam and Darlong communities, these villages are home to around 200 families.
The villagers’ plight has been exacerbated by the single, dirt road connecting their villages, which has become virtually impassable due to neglect. The deteriorating condition of the road has made it difficult for residents to access essential services and hindered emergency response.
The residents have also expressed deep anguish over the lack of permanent drinking water facilities and frequent electricity outages. The situation has worsened since a private company, Sai Computers, took over the electricity service in Kailashahar.
The villagers’ protest, which began at 10am, gained momentum as more residents, including women, joined the blockade. The protesters initially vowed to continue the blockade until the District Magistrate arrived to address their grievances and provide concrete assurances.
In response to the protest, a large contingent of police and TSR troops from Kailashahar police station was deployed to the site. While the Deputy Magistrate of the Kailashahar Sub-divisional office attempted to negotiate with the protesters, they remained adamant in their demands.
Eventually, the Kailashahar Sub-divisional Magistrate, Pradeep Sarkar, intervened and engaged in a lengthy dialogue with the villagers. He assured them that officials from relevant departments would soon visit the affected villages to assess the situation and devise solutions.
Following this assurance, the villagers relented and withdrew the blockade around 4:30 pm. The villagers expressed confidence on the administration and cleared the road – much to the relief of the daily commuters.
(Tripura, Tripura News)