Tripura has changed but vigilance needed to protect peace: Minister Bikash Debbarma

Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma has urged people to remain vigilant against forces that may attempt to disturb peace in Tripura’s hill regions, recalling the fear and violence of the 1990s.

Speaking at the 'Janatar Katha Shona' program in the 43 Mile area of Krishnapur constituency, the Minister said, “There was a time when people here lived in constant fear. Teachers could not travel safely, families spent sleepless nights worrying about armed groups knocking at their doors. Many breadwinners were taken away, and some families never learned their fate.”

Debbarma noted that the hills once witnessed armed activity, kidnappings, and extortion, leaving deep scars in the community. He reminded locals that the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), active during that period, was banned in 1997 after widespread allegations of violence.

Reflecting on the present, the Minister said, “Today Tripura has changed. Markets are thriving, schools are running, tourists are visiting the hills. But some groups still try to disrupt harmony. We must all stay alert so that those dark days never return.”

Local residents also shared memories of the troubled past, describing how villages would go dark at night and families lived in silence to avoid detection. While Tripura has largely moved on, the Minister’s remarks highlighted that the painful memories of the 1990s remain vivid for many.

The discussion, held over tea with villagers, served as both a reminder of the state’s turbulent history and a call to safeguard its hard-earned peace and development.