Road blockades in Tripura have traditionally focused on demands for basic amenities like drinking water, schoolteachers, electricity, or road repairs. However, for the first time, residents staged a protest demanding uninterrupted internet access.
On Thursday morning, tribal villagers from Dumbur’s Mandirghat in the Karbook Assembly Constituency blocked the Mandirghat–Jatanbari road, voicing frustration over years of poor telecom infrastructure. BSNL, the only provider in the area, has consistently failed to deliver reliable service, leaving locals digitally isolated.
Despite repeated appeals to elected leaders and telecom officials, no improvements have been made. This ongoing digital blackout has cut off access to online education, digital payments, and social media. Protesters slammed the government’s “Digital India” campaign and mocked Tripura’s much-touted “HIRA Plus” model, saying they remain excluded.
Even a BSF vehicle was caught in the blockade and denied passage. With no response from officials or BSNL, the anger deepened.
Locals vow to continue the protest until real action is taken. Private telecom companies like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone have also failed to expand into the area, underlining the deepening digital divide in Tripura’s tribal belts.
