Correspondent
Agartala, August 28, 2023: The Twipra Students' Federation (TSF), an integral part of the North East Students' Organization (NESO), has initiated a 12-hour strike across Tripura, with a key demand for the recognition of Roman script as the official script for the Kokborok language.
The strike has triggered disruptions in traffic movement across several regions, particularly within the jurisdiction of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Activists affiliated with TSF have effectively blocked four strategic points along the national highway, which serves as a vital link between Tripura and Assam, as well as other states. This blockade has led to significant delays in the movement of both goods and passengers. However, it's worth noting that train services have remained unaffected by the strike, with North East Frontier Railways officials confirming that operations are proceeding according to schedule, and no interruptions have been observed along the railway tracks.
In the city of Agartala, TSF students have furthered their protest efforts, including the obstruction of a bridge and a bus stand. Local law enforcement stepped in to defuse tensions and ultimately removed the blockades after a minor altercation with the protesters. Despite some arrests, the protests have thus far transpired peacefully, with senior police officials underscoring the meticulous security measures implemented to uphold law and order.
Notably, TSF's strike has garnered support from other student and tribal organizations, including the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the TIPRA Motha. These entities are echoing the call for Kokborok, the language widely spoken among Tripura's tribes, to be transcribed using the Roman script instead of the current Bengali script. Advocates of this change assert that adopting the Roman script will serve to safeguard and propagate the language and cultural heritage of the indigenous population.