AGARTALA | AUGUST 24, 2026: Staging a major demonstration against alleged police harassment, members of the E-Rickshaw Shramik Sangh, Tripura Pradesh took out a rally in Agartala demanding immediate resolution of their 11-point charter of demands.
Organized under the banner of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the rally commenced from the front of Rabindra Kanan (Rabindra Bhavan) and marched through key city routes before culminating at the office of the West Tripura District Magistrate (DM), where a formal deputation was submitted.
Key Grievances & Demands Raised
- End to Arbitrary Fines & Detention: Trade union leader Asim Datta accused traffic police personnel of targeting e-rickshaw (TomTom) drivers across Agartala, imposing heavy fines, and arbitrarily detaining vehicles.
- Jurisdictional Harassment Concerns: Union leaders highlighted that traffic authorities are cracking down on e-rickshaws registered in rural panchayat areas on the grounds of entering urban municipal zones. The Sangh demanded a fair, structured operational policy instead of immediate penal actions.
- Protection of Driver Livelihoods: The 11-point memorandum urged the district administration to safeguard the financial security of informal transport workers and cease unnecessary harassment under the guise of urban traffic management.
Leadership Statement
Addressing reporters during the demonstration, BMS leader Asim Datta expressed strong resentment against traffic law enforcement practices:
“E-rickshaw operators are being subjected to persistent harassment and heavy penalties daily. Authorities claim panchayat-registered e-rickshaws cannot ply within city limits, leading to frequent detentions. We demand an immediate end to this arbitrary harassment and urge the District Magistrate to implement worker-friendly transport regulations.”
— Asim Datta, Trade Union Leader, BMS
Key Representatives Present
- Asim Datta: Senior Leader, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
- Executive members and representatives of the E-Rickshaw Shramik Sangh, Tripura Pradesh.
