Agartala, August 29: Tensions flared in West Tripura district as hundreds of residents from the majority community blocked National Highway 8 in protest against the police detention of five local youths in connection to the incident of vandalism and arson of minority houses and vehicles, which took place four days ago at Durganagar under the jurisdiction of the Ranirbazar police station, was sparked by the recent communal violence in the area.
The protesters demanded the immediate release of the detained youths, who were taken into custody late last night for interrogation regarding the violence.
The unrest was triggered by the defacing of a Kail idol by unidentified miscreants which was discovered on the evening of August 25, leading to widespread arson that left dozens of houses and vehicles in ashes.
The demonstrators questioned the police’s actions, asking why those responsible for the idol’s defacement and the attack on those who had come to see the idol had not been arrested, while what they described as “innocent Hindu youths” were taken into custody.
Senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) for West Tripura district, Kiran Kumar, rushed to the scene but were initially unsuccessful in clearing the blockade.
The situation was further complicated by the fact that a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the BNS, 2023, was in effect, forbidding the gathering of more than four persons in Jirania subdivision.
Despite the ongoing prohibitory orders, the protesters, numbering in the hundreds, gathered on the highway, which serves as a lifeline for the state of Tripura, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing significant inconvenience to the public.
Local MLA Sushanta Chowdhury, who is also a minister in the state government, eventually intervened. Addressing the crowd, Chowdhury assured them that the police were merely performing their duties and urged the community to seek legal recourse to secure the release of the detained youths.
He also emphasized the importance of legal action against those responsible for defacing the Hindu goddess.
Following Chowdhury’s appeal, the protesters agreed to withdraw the blockade, allowing traffic to resume. However, the protestors then regrouped outside the Ranirbazar police station, demanding further action.
The situation in the area remains tense, with the prohibitory order now extended until the end of the month to prevent further escalation of violence.
