Agartala, April 4:
An elderly woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Tripura’s Khowai district in the early hours of Saturday, triggering widespread unrest, violence, and a prolonged road blockade in the area just days ahead of the TTAADC elections.
The incident occurred around 2 am at Jumbari area under Ramkrishnapur ADC Village in Mungiakami police station limits of Teliamura subdivision.
The victim, identified as 70-year-old Manimala Debbarma, was attacked in the courtyard of her residence by a wild tusker, leading to her death on the spot.
Family members said the elephant suddenly entered the habitation and fatally injured the woman before anyone could respond.
The incident sparked immediate outrage among local residents. Later in the day, angry villagers, along with the victim’s family, staged a blockade on the Assam-Agartala National Highway at Mungiakami Bazar, placing the dead body on the road and disrupting vehicular movement for hours.
As tensions escalated, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Dhiren Koloi reached the spot but was allegedly confronted and attacked by irate locals. He was later rescued by local leaders of the Tipra Motha party and taken to a safer location.
Reports also indicate that a section of agitated youths vandalised a nearby forest beat office, further aggravating the situation.
The unrest took a more serious turn when two journalists were allegedly assaulted while covering the incident.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Apurba Krishna Chakraborty also faced public anger during his visit.
The situation worsened when compensation assurances were communicated, prompting a section of women protesters to confront the official, forcing him to leave the spot for safety.
A large police contingent was deployed to bring the situation under control, though locals alleged that initial police response remained inadequate as the violence unfolded.
Officials later announced compensation for the victim’s family, stating that ₹1 lakh has been released by the Forest Department, while an additional ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) would be disbursed through the administration.
In a joint assurance, authorities said immediate measures would be taken to prevent further human-elephant conflict, including installation of solar electric fencing, digging of elephant-proof trenches, and initiation of steps to capture or relocate the rogue elephant.
The incident has once again highlighted the recurring threat of human-elephant conflict in Tripura, particularly in Khowai district, where multiple fatalities have been reported in recent years.
With the TTAADC elections approaching, the incident has also begun to acquire political overtones, as leaders and workers of the Tipra Motha party, including candidate Utpal Debbarma, visited the site and expressed solidarity with the aggrieved family and demanded a permanent solution as this is not the first such incident.
As of the latest reports, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha visited the site and expressed solidarity with the aggrieved family but the situation in Mungiakami remained tense, raising concerns over its potential impact on the upcoming polls.
