Security forces are on high alert in Tripura as the Tipra Students Federation (TSF) and Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) have called for indefinite protests from Friday (March 21, 2025) to demand the introduction of their Kokborok language to all levels of education. The ruling party in the tribal autonomous district council, TIPRA Motha, and also an alliance partner of the BJP in the State government, has not directly extended support to the call but has urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to concede to the demand.
The TSF is an independent and oldest tribal student organisation, while the TISF is the student wing of TIPRA Motha. They have stated that the protests will take in various forms including blockades of national highways and railways, as well as strikes in schools.
The Northeast Frontier Railways, which operates trains in the Tripura zone, has not cancelled any trains in response to the protest call but may reschedule services if the situation demands, said an official on Thursday (March 20, 2025). Police have stated that they will try to persuade the protestors to refrain from blocking the highways.
Indigenous groups, particularly the TSF, have long been organising protests to demand the use of Roman script as the medium of teaching and exams in all academic spheres. This demand has now received support from TIPRA Motha.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, former MLA and TIPRA Motha leader Rajeshwar Debbarma urged, “Introduce Roman script as an optional medium for students, allowing them to write their answers in either Roman or Bengali script according to their preference.”
TSF and TISF leaders have also criticised the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) for failing to fulfil its commitment to prepare question papers in Kokborok for tribal students who are unwilling to answer in Bengali.
