Agartala, August 18, 2025: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), supported by the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), staged a sit-in strike in Agartala today demanding immediate action against illegal immigration in the Northeast. The protest, held under the banner “Evict All Illegal Immigrants from North East,” saw large participation from student activists and youth leaders.
The demonstrators gathered in front of the state government office, holding placards and banners, raising slogans against the alleged unchecked influx of outsiders into the region. Leaders of NESO and TSF urged both the State Government of Tripura and the Union Government of India to take urgent steps to identify and deport illegal immigrants, whom they claim pose a threat to the demographic balance, cultural identity, and economic opportunities of indigenous communities in the Northeast.
Speaking during the sit-in, student leaders alleged that successive governments have failed to address the long-standing issue of illegal migration despite repeated appeals from various social and political organizations. They stressed that the influx has led to land alienation, unemployment, and dilution of indigenous culture and traditions.
The banner of the protest carried strong messages, including “An Appeal to the State Government and Government of India: Take Immediate Action Against Illegal Immigration in the Northeast”. The TSF, which organized the event, also highlighted its motto “Arise! Build Up” and emphasized unity among indigenous communities with the slogan “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
The sit-in strike remained peaceful, with security personnel deployed to ensure law and order. No untoward incident was reported during the demonstration.
NESO leaders have warned that this is only the beginning of a larger movement if the government fails to take concrete steps. They indicated that similar protests would be intensified across other northeastern states in the coming months, uniting various student bodies under a single platform.
The issue of illegal immigration has remained a politically sensitive subject in Tripura and other northeastern states for decades. With organizations like NESO and TSF bringing it back to the forefront, political observers believe it could spark fresh debates and pressures on the state and central leadership ahead of upcoming policy decisions.