Motha’s strike for tribal rights hits life in Tripura

Agartala: The dawn-to-dusk general strike called by main opposition Tipra Motha in the Tripura Autonomous District Council (ADC) area on Saturday seeking a “constitutional solution for indigenous communities of the state” disrupted life across three-fourths of the state’s geography.However, there was no report of any untoward incident. Motha supporters put up a blockade on a railway line, which brought several trains at Atharamura hill range in Khowai district to a grinding halt. A long-distance train bound for Agartala with hundreds of passengers was stopped at Mungiakami, while trains from Agartala were sent back and three other trains were stranded on the tracks. Passenger buses for other districts from Agartala stayed off the roads. Similarly, no buses were available for inter-district movement as all the district roads and national highways pass through the ADC. The CPM opposed the strike saying it will not solve the problems of the tribals, and rather suggested organising a public movement involving all stakeholders for the holistic development of the indigenous people. Congress neither supported nor opposed the strike.

Pradyots Motha calls ADC bandh on Sept 30

Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, the leader of Tipra Motha in Tripura, has announced an agitation to press the Centre for a constitutional solution to the problems faced by tribals. This includes a strike on September 30 in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council areas. Despite being in the opposition, Debbarman has been advocating for the rights of tribals and met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss their demands. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Debbarman has decided to launch a mass agitation.

Lightning strike kills two in Uttarakhand district

Two people died in Uttarakhand when lightning struck their houses in Sarpaani village. Hema Devi and her brother-in-law Jai Prakash were sleeping in the common courtyard when the incident occurred. They were rushed to a nearby health center but were declared dead by the doctors. The victims were engaged in farming and were tending to their family's fields at the time of the incident.

Trains movement to be affected

Train traffic will be affected due to remodelling work at Anand railway yard. Eight MEMU trains between Anand and Khambhat will be cancelled from September 29 to October 1, along with 14 other trains between September 30 and October 1. Several MEMU and Intercity Express trains will also be cancelled or short-terminated during this period. In other news, a new MEMU train has been flagged off between Vadodara and Dahod, while a Shakurbasti-Mathura MEMU train broke through a platform at Mathura junction. Additionally, 12 express trains have been cancelled in Visakhapatnam for October due to interlocking work.