Sudden outbreak of attacks trigger communal tension in Tripura’s Gandatwisa

AGARTALA: The district administration of Tripura’s Dhalai has imposed Sec 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across Gandatwisa (Gandachhera) to maintain public tranquility following sudden outbreak of violence and attacks by a group of miscreants allegedly belong to tribal community on Friday after death of a college student who was assaulted on July 7 night.

The violent mob set at least 37 shops and six houses reportedly belonging to non-tribal in the surrounding areas of Gandatwisa on fire since Friday evening and triggered communal tension. The non-tribal families including the service personnel of schools, colleges, and hospitals rushed to the nearby jungle apprehending the attacks after failing to get immediate response from the police.

Superintendent of Police (Dhalai) Avinash Rai on Saturday said the situation was brought under control within a few hours although there were a few untoward incidents that happened by a group of miscreants. At least seven policemen including Additional SP, and SDPO Gandatwisa were injured while preventing the violence in the darkness.

“All preventive measures to restore peace have been undertaken and additional forces including CRPF were pressed into action. There is no report of any fresh attack on Saturday. We arranged cremation of the boy who died in the hospital and a peace meeting is called,” Rai said.

According to report, a group of non-tribal youths beat up a college student identified as Parameshwar Reang of Jagabandhupara on last Sunday when he protested the assault of a mentally sick non-tribal man in a fun fair at the Cricket Stadium in the 30 Card area.

A group of 25-30 intoxicated youths assaulted him badly in presence of TSR personnel. When Parameshwar was shifted to Gandatwisa hospital he was found electrocuted and very critical. The doctors referred him to Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC) where he succumbed to his injuries on Friday, locals alleged.

Meantime, police arrested four prime accused persons involved in the attack on Parameshwar and all of them are now in judicial custody. However, as soon as the information reached the village it spread like a wildfire and a group of tribals resorted to attack on non-tribals in the local markets around the main town almost at a time.

They looted the shops, assaulted the shop owners and set the shops on fire. Gandatwisa police station was not also equipped to handle the sudden outbreak of communal tension and became helpless, which triggered fear among the non-tribal communities and took shelter in the forest areas.

At least 200 non-tribal families ran away from the houses at night fearing attack, a source in Gandatwisa claimed adding that administration took longer to bring TSR and CRPF from other areas. Had police responded in time the situation could have been handled properly, it added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Leader of the opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, and AICC leader and MLA Sudip Roybarman appealed the people not to indulge any sort of violence and to maintain peace.


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