Kathalia | Correspondent Report July 19:
A wave of frustration turned into public fury in Kathalia RD Block as local residents took to the streets on Friday morning, blocking the main Kathalia–Udaipur road in protest. The reason? Long-standing negligence and delays in basic government services — particularly in issuing Permanent Resident of Tripura Certificates (PRTC) and marriage certificates.

The protest, which began early morning, saw over a hundred people using bamboo poles, tree branches, and wooden planks to block the road. Locals claim that despite submitting applications months ago, their documents remain pending due to bureaucratic apathy, lack of coordination, and irresponsible behavior by officials.

A protesting woman said, “It’s been over three months since I applied for my husband’s PRTC. Every time I visit the office, I get a new excuse – either the officer is absent or the papers are missing.”
Another protester added, “Even after applying online for our marriage certificate, we haven’t received any updates. The officials keep passing the blame while we suffer.”

The agitation caused traffic disruption for over two hours until local police and RD Block officials arrived at the scene. After a brief negotiation, the Block Development Officer (BDO) assured the protesters that immediate steps would be taken to resolve the backlog and improve service delivery. Only then did the residents agree to lift the blockade.

However, the protesters issued a stern warning: “If the promises aren’t fulfilled this time, we will launch a larger movement. We are simply asking for our rightful documents — not favors.”

Speaking to reporters, block officials acknowledged a backlog in services due to staff shortages and technical issues but claimed corrective measures are now underway.