Agartala, March 21: The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) launched an indefinite statewide strike on Friday, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok. As part of their protest, tribal student activists blocked the VIP road leading to the Airport, Assembly, and High Court in Agartala, escalating their decades-old demand for script reform.
The demonstration coincided with the opening day of Tripura’s Budget Session, amplifying pressure on the government. Hundreds of TSF and YTF activists gathered at key intersections, disrupting traffic and raising slogans in support of their cause. The blockade led to massive congestion, with security personnel struggling to restore normalcy.
Addressing the media, TSF in-charge and YTF general secretary James Debbarma criticized the government for neglecting their demand for over five decades, despite repeated assurances. He argued that a significant section of the indigenous Kokborok-speaking community prefers the Roman script over the Bengali script currently used in official records and education.
Drawing parallels with the formation of Bangladesh, Debbarma cited the imposition of Urdu over Bengali as an example of how script-related decisions can fuel discontent. “The Roman script is widely used among Kokborok speakers, and we will not back down until our demand is met,” he declared.
The blockade near the Assembly was a direct challenge to the government, forcing Ministers and MLAs to take alternate routes to avoid the protest site near Circuit House.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies were deployed in large numbers to prevent any escalation. Officials urged protesters to disperse, warning of legal consequences if the disruptions continued.
The TSF has vowed to persist with its indefinite strike until the government takes concrete steps toward adopting the Kokborok.
 launched an indefinite statewide strike on Friday, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok. As part of their protest, tribal student activists blocked the VIP road leading to the Airport, Assembly, and High Court in Agartala, escalating their decades-old demand for script reform.){kind=link}