Agartala Mega Rally Erupts Over State Government's Silence on Illegal Immigrants — MLA Ranjit Debbarma Demands Immediate Action

A massive rally held in Agartala demanded action against illegal immigration, after MLA Ranjit Debbarma revealed the Tripura government tried to hide a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs calling for identification and deportation of immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Agartala Mega Rally Erupts Over State Government's Silence on Illegal Immigrants — MLA Ranjit Debbarma Demands Immediate Action
Tripura Protest against Illegal Immigrants

Agartala, 7 July 2025:
A massive rally was held today in the heart of Agartala, as near 10,000 gathered in a wave of emotion and frustration over the Tripura state government's continued silence on the issue of illegal immigration. The rally was sparked by recent revelations and a powerful statement made by MLA Ranjit Debbarma, who accused the government of deliberately hiding crucial directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The MHA, in a strongly worded letter, had directed all states and union territories to verify the identity and citizenship status of suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar within 30 days. The letter also instructed state authorities to establish district-level detention centers, initiate the deportation process where legal status remains unverified, and submit monthly updates to the Centre on progress made.

But shockingly, according to Ranjit Debbarma, the Tripura government made no effort to act on these orders — nor did they make the contents of the MHA letter public. “They tried to bury the letter, just like they’ve buried the voices of indigenous people for decades,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion while addressing the crowd.

“I wrote to the Home Ministry personally after suspecting something was wrong,” said Debbarma. “And then, a high-ranking official from the MHA confirmed my fears — and handed me a copy of the very letter our own government tried to hide.”

He further alleged that the pattern of inaction on illegal immigration goes back to 1971. “This state has suffered for decades because of political greed. For vote bank politics, our borders were ignored. Our identity, our land, our future — all put at risk,” Debbarma declared with pain and determination.

The rally, led by tribal leaders, student unions, and rights organizations, echoed with chants demanding accountability and immediate formation of a special task force to tackle the issue. The crowd also called for the swift establishment of detention camps to house illegal immigrants pending deportation.

“The time has come,” said Debbarma, “to stand not just for ourselves, but for the next generation. We cannot be refugees in our own land. The silence of this government is an insult to every sacrifice made by our people.”

As emotions ran high, many in the crowd held up placards that read “Tripura is Not a Dumping Ground” and “Identity Before Votes.” Several women and elders were seen in tears, sharing stories of land lost and cultural erosion over the years.

Today’s rally may well mark a turning point in Tripura’s long-standing debate over immigration. With the state government now under intense pressure and the MHA watching closely, the next steps will be closely monitored by citizens across the region.

By Choba Tripura