The 24-hour strike called by the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), the coalition partner of the ruling BJP, brought life to a standstill on Thursday.

The IPFT had called the strike in Khumulwng, the headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), about 25km from state capital Agartala, seeking the immediate release of one of its leaders, Pradip Debbarma, president of Indigenous Motors Workers Union (IMWU), who was arrested on July 5 following a clash between BJP and IPFT supporters.

Sources said Tripura is likely to see more such protests in the run-up to the TTAADC polls, which were put off because of the pandemic. The district council was ruled by the Left but has been under governor’s rule ever since its term expired on May 17.

IPFT spokesperson Mangal Debbarma told The Telegraph that the strike was peaceful and had evoked a total response. He claimed that Pradip was “innocent” and they would intensify their protest if he were not released. His jail custody was on Friday extended till July 17. A two-day IPFT conference got under way on Friday. Pradip’s arrest is on the agenda.